Why did Amazon drop Maverick's racer?

Publisher pulls back as strategy shifts

Amazon has ended its publishing relationship with Maverick Games, the UK studio founded by former Forza Horizon veterans. The split does not mean the game has been cancelled; Maverick retains the project and plans for development to continue, but Amazon’s decision removes the company’s prior publishing support.

Company statements and reporting indicate this move is part of a wider change in Amazon’s games strategy. The publisher has been retrenching from large third-party publishing commitments while focusing resources on a smaller set of strategic initiatives. That shift previously affected other partnerships and reflects a broader re-evaluation of how the company wants to position itself in games.

What this means for the project and industry

• Maverick still controls the project and may seek a new publishing partner or pursue self-publishing.
• The loss of an established publisher’s marketing and distribution muscle could slow the game’s timeline or change its scope.
• The move underscores a trend of major tech companies scaling back big-budget external publishing and concentrating on owned IP or core services.

For developers and players, the episode is a reminder of the fragility of modern publishing deals: a change in corporate strategy can leave studios scrambling for funding, and projects in mid-development may face uncertainty even when they are far along. Observers will be watching to see whether Maverick finds a new partner quickly or adjusts plans to continue independently.