It sounds like the Forza Horizon series is going to be getting some new competition, and it’s coming from a team of former Forza Horizon developers. Maverick Games, a new studio formed in 2022, has signed a publishing agreement with Amazon Games to create a new “narrative led open-world driving game,” and unlike the Forza Horizon games, this one will also be available on PS5.
Maverick Games studio head and creative director Mike Brown previously served as creative director on Forza Horizon 5. It sounds like the developers will be building on that strong open-world-racing foundation for its new project, but with an increased emphasis on characters and story. Those are present in the Horizon games, but not necessarily a huge focus.
“Lots of great driving games have amazing gameplay, amazing content,” Brown said in a press release. “But to really cross that bridge, to become a game that people genuinely love, then there needs to be that human connection where you’re actually rooting for these characters, falling in love with these characters. That, I think, is a place where our game will be able to really differentiate itself from the other titles in this genre.”
Many of the Maverick Games employees, of which there are currently 62, previously worked on the Forza Horizon series, including the audio director, art director, content director, and executive producer. The lead writer is Skins co-creator Jamie Brittain, suggesting Maverick is very serious about delivering on the story and characters in addition to the racing.
Maverick Games’ open-world racer is currently untitled and doesn’t have a release date, but it will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.