Amazon Backs Ex-Forza Horizon Talent's New Open-World Driving Game

Maverick Games, a new gaming studio helmed by ex-Forza Horizon 5 director Mike Brown, has inked a publishing deal with Amazon Games for its maiden project: an unnamed "story-focused, open-world driving game."

A Fresh Take on Racing Games

Mike Brown, who serves as both the head of the studio and its creative force, is enthusiastic about exploring the untapped potential of storytelling within the racing genre. In a recent exchange with Amazon, Brown expressed his belief that racing games have yet to fully embrace the narrative possibilities present in other genres.

"I've been in the racing game scene for nearly twenty years, and I see a vast reservoir of untapped possibilities," Brown expressed. "We aim to deliver an experience that not only satisfies the racing community's desires but also immerses them in compelling stories and characters."

Leading the narrative charge is Jamie Brittain, known for his work as co-creator of the popular British television series, Skins. Brown attributes Skins' success to Brittain's knack for crafting authentic and relatable characters.

A Team with Proven Track Records

Maverick Games boasts a talented roster of developers, many of whom hail from Playground Games, the studio behind the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Executive producer Tom Butcher, chief technical officer Matt Craven, content director Gareth Harwood, audio director Fraser Strachan, art director Ben Penrose, and visual design director Elly Marshall are among the key figures lending their expertise to Maverick's debut project.

Notably, Forza Horizon has consistently received high praise from critics, with each installment earning scores of over 90 on review aggregator Metacritic. Forza Horizon 5, directed by Brown himself, holds an impressive score of 92.

Brown and several of his colleagues departed Playground Games in 2022, a move that also saw co-founder Gavin Raeburn establish his own studio, Lighthouse Games. Meanwhile, Playground Games, under Xbox's umbrella, is currently at work on the highly anticipated Fable reboot.