Amazon Backs Out of Publishing Open-World Driving Game from Ex-Forza Horizon Developers

IGN

by Luke Reilly

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Amazon has announced its withdrawal from publishing an upcoming open-world driving game developed by Maverick Games, a UK-based studio. The decision comes as part of Amazon’s strategic shift to focus on projects that align more closely with their unique strengths and scale, such as the recent relaunch of Luna and their partnership with Crystal Dynamics on Tomb Raider. In a statement, Amazon expressed respect for Maverick Games’ work but emphasized that this move allows the developer greater flexibility in finding a publishing partner better suited to bringing their game to market. Despite this change, development on the unnamed open-world driving project remains active, with plans to share updates later in the year. Maverick Games was founded in 2022 by former Forza Horizon developers, including Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director for *Forza Horizon 5*. The team has been working on a “premium open-world game” for consoles and PC since January 2023. Amazon announced their partnership with Maverick Games in mid-2024, but the timing of this reveal aligns with an earlier report from January 2023, suggesting a potential mix-up or delay in communication about the project’s timeline. The game itself is described as a narrative-driven open-world driving experience, which has garnered significant attention within the gaming community. While Amazon’s exit may raise questions about the project’s future, Maverick Games’ co-founder Mike Brown confirmed on social media that development is progressing strongly and that updates will be shared later this year. This indicates that the team remains committed to delivering a high-quality title despite losing their original publishing partner. This situation highlights the dynamic nature of game development partnerships and the importance of aligning strategic priorities in the gaming industry. Amazon’s decision underscores their focus on projects that leverage their strengths, such as cloud gaming with Luna and established franchises like Tomb Raider. Meanwhile, Maverick Games’ ability to continue development independently demonstrates the resilience of smaller studios and their determination to bring innovative ideas to fruition. For gamers, this story underlines the potential for exciting new titles in the open-world driving genre, even when major publishers step back from projects. Overall, while Amazon’s exit marks a turning point for this collaboration

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Originally published on IGN on 2/26/2026