Amazon Games has ended its deal to publish a big new open-world driving game from UK studio Maverick Games. The game is still being made. It’s a high-budget story-driven title for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Maverick is now looking for a new partner to help bring it to market.
https://x.com/Wario64/status/2026663310045630885
Maverick Games started in 2022. Its team includes experts from famous racing games. Co-founder Mike Brown used to lead creative work on the Forza Horizon series. The studio boss, Harinder Sangha, worked at Sega and Sumo Digital before. They promise a fun mix of driving action and a strong story.
Amazon shared why they made the change. A spokesperson said: “We’re focusing on projects that fit our strengths, like Luna streaming and Tomb Raider games. This lets Maverick find a better match to launch their game.” Amazon praised the team’s work and wished them luck.
Maverick’s leaders replied: “Thanks to Amazon for the support. Our game is on track. We’re talking to new partners who love our ideas. More news soon.”
This isn’t Amazon’s first cutback. Last year, they laid off many workers from big online games. That included New World: Aeternum, which will shut down servers on January 31, 2027. They also canceled an untitled Lord of the Rings online game. Amazon stopped supporting the new co-op game King of Meat. They even sold an unreleased team battle game, March of Giants, to Ubisoft.
The boss of Amazon Games Studios, Christoph Hartmann, left the company last month. These changes show Amazon pulling back from huge, expensive projects. But Amazon isn’t quitting games entirely. They’re sticking with Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics is making two new ones. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis reimagines the 1996 classic. It comes out this year. Tomb Raider Catalyst is a fresh story, set for 2027. Amazon also funds a Tomb Raider TV show that’s just started filming.
Plus, they’ll keep improving Luna, their game streaming service. Luna lets you play games on phones, TVs, or computers without needing powerful hardware.
Why does this matter? Amazon entered gaming with big dreams, like making Lord of the Rings games. But high costs and tough competition led to pullbacks. Studios like Maverick now get a chance to shop their game elsewhere. Think of it like a band losing their record label, they keep making music and find a new one.
Public reactions on Twitter (X) show frustration and criticism of the current state of the gaming industry.
One user expressed disappointment that more racing games are needed and said they cannot believe Need for Speed is “dead,” showing sadness over the decline of a once-popular franchise.
Another user criticized Amazon, suggesting that the company may not be suited to developing games.
Another user also criticized the situation. They said that companies like Netflix were hiring people for gaming jobs, and they questioned whether the company leaders are making smart and responsible decisions.
For fans, the driving game sounds exciting. Open-world racers like Forza Horizon let you explore huge maps, race friends, and follow stories. Maverick could fill a gap if big names like Playground Games are busy. The gaming world moves fast. Amazon’s focus on hits like Tomb Raider makes business sense. Tomb Raider has sold millions since 1996.
Streaming like Luna fights services from Google and Microsoft. Maverick says development is strong. Expect updates later this year. This could lead to a surprise partnership, maybe with EA, Ubisoft, or even Microsoft.
Amazon is slimming down to survive. Maverick pushes forward. Gamers might get a cool new racer soon.
