Amazon Games has terminated its publishing agreement with Maverick Games, a UK studio developing an open-world racing title, and is now seeking a new publisher for the project.
Maverick Games was founded in 2022 by Mike Brown, the former creative director of Forza Horizon, and includes several veterans from Playground Games. Brown had previously stated his ambition to create a AAA premium game intended to “win all the awards.” The studio’s debut project was originally secured as a publishing deal with Amazon, but that arrangement has now dissolved.
Amazon Game Studios confirmed the decision in a statement, citing a “strategic evolution” as the reason for the separation. The company stated it is shifting focus toward projects that leverage Amazon’s specific strengths, specifically mentioning the recent re-launch of its Luna streaming service and its partnership with Crystal Dynamics for the Tomb Raider franchise. Amazon noted that the split allows Maverick Games the flexibility to find a partner whose strategic priorities align better with bringing the racing game to market. Maverick Games is currently in “active dialogue” with prospective new publishers.
The split marks another turbulent chapter in Amazon’s gaming endeavors, which have produced mixed results over the years. The company’s 2020 free-to-play shooter Crucible was shut down quickly after launch. While the MMO New World found more success, Amazon is winding down support for the game next year. The status of the Lord of the Rings MMO remains unclear; reports indicate that layoffs within Amazon’s MMO division last year affected the team working on that title.
Amazon’s recent publishing track record includes the co-op dungeon crawler King of Meat, which launched in October 2025 and is scheduled to shut down on April 9, less than a year after release. Despite these closures, Amazon retains two Tomb Raider titles on its release slate, including a reimagining of the original 1996 game.
