Maverick Games is not waiting for State of Play to make noise: the studio founded by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown has started teasing the reveal of its first AAA open-world racing game for June 2, just hours before the showcase goes live.
The project is described as a AAA “narrative-led driving experience” set in an open world, according to Notebookcheck. That framing immediately separates it from the usual open-world racing pitch built around event maps, car lists, online play, and festival progression.
Maverick Games is working on a AAA “narrative-led driving experience” in an open world setting.
Maverick’s reveal is arriving before the showcase spotlight
Maverick Games was formed in 2022 by Brown, who served as creative director on Forza Horizon 5. The studio also includes other former Forza Horizon developers, giving its debut project immediate credibility in a genre where handling feel, map design, and event structure can make or break the first hour.
The studio teased the reveal on X, with the announcement set for June 2. The timing matters because it lands hours before State of Play, suggesting Maverick wants attention before the broader showcase cycle absorbs the day’s news.
That does not confirm a State of Play appearance. It does put the reveal close enough to the event that platform and marketing questions will follow immediately.
The confirmed creative direction is narrow but meaningful:
- Studio: Maverick Games, founded by Mike Brown in 2022
- Project: First AAA game from the studio
- Genre: Open-world racing / driving
- Hook: Story-led structure
- Reveal date: June 2
- Known writer: Jamie Brittian
- Unknowns: Title, platforms, release window, publisher setup, gameplay details
Maverick was originally funded by Amazon, but later went independent after Amazon made significant changes to its games business. That makes this reveal more than a new trailer drop. It is the first public test of whether the studio can turn its Forza-linked pedigree into a standalone identity.
The pitch sounds less like Forza Horizon, more like a campaign-first racer
The obvious comparison is Forza Horizon, because Brown and other Maverick developers helped build that series’ modern open-world racing formula. But Maverick’s wording points somewhere else.
Forza Horizon has story framing, but its center of gravity has been race variety, exploration, car culture, and a steady stream of activities. Notebookcheck notes that even Forza Horizon 6 has an overarching story, while the stronger emphasis remains on the variety of races.
Maverick is using a different phrase: “narrative-led driving experience.” That suggests story is not just connective tissue between events. It may be the structure holding the game together.
| Element | Forza Horizon framing from the source | Maverick’s stated direction |
|---|---|---|
| World | Open-world racing | Open-world driving experience |
| Story role | Present, but not the main focus | “Narrative-led” |
| Core pull | Race variety | Story-driven driving |
| Known details | Established franchise context | Debut project, still mostly under wraps |
The nearest reference point in the supplied material is Need for Speed, specifically older entries that leaned harder into storyline. That comparison is useful, but limited. Maverick has not shown footage, characters, map design, progression, car roster, or mission structure.
MLXIO analysis: The phrase “narrative-led” raises the bar. Racing games can promise story and still collapse into cutscenes between events. For Maverick, the first trailer needs to show how story changes the driving itself — not just who talks before the next checkpoint.
For readers tracking the wider gaming hardware side around upcoming releases, MLXIO has also covered 8BitDo's $150 Xbox Controller Opens Preorders—With a Wait and 007 First Light PS5 Locks 60fps, Sacrifices Clarity.
Platforms and publishing are now the pressure points
The June 2 reveal should answer the basics Maverick has not yet disclosed: the official title, release window, launch platforms, and whether a publisher is attached.
Those details will shape the story fast. If the game appears during or around State of Play, players will look for signs of PlayStation marketing rights. If the reveal happens separately before the showcase, the timing may simply be a bid to capture attention during a crowded announcement day.
The bigger unknown is gameplay. Racing fans will be watching for:
- Map scale: How large and varied the open world actually looks
- Handling model: Arcade, simcade, or something closer to Forza Horizon’s accessible feel
- Story integration: Whether narrative affects missions, routes, rivals, or progression
- Car roster: Licensed vehicles, fictional cars, or a mix
- Online play: Solo-first campaign, shared-world features, or multiplayer events
- Customization: Visual tuning, performance upgrades, character identity, or none of the above
There have been no major leaks or rumors around the game, according to the source material. That gives Maverick rare control over the first impression.
The immediate watch item is not whether Maverick can claim the Forza audience. It is whether the reveal shows a racing game with story built into its design, or simply an open-world driver with a heavier script. On June 2, the difference should start to show.
Key Takeaways
- Maverick Games carries credibility because it was founded by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown and includes other Forza Horizon veterans.
- The project could stand out in open-world racing by emphasizing story rather than only events, cars, and online progression.
- The June 2 reveal timing, just before State of Play, raises immediate questions about platforms, publishing, and marketing plans.
