Press release

Announcing MAVERICK GAMES – Forza Horizon directors unite to form new AAA development studio

Creative Director Mike Brown leads a new, forward-looking British game developer in the heart of Leamington Spa’s thriving development scene, creating a new, premium open-world game

Leamington Spa, UK – 10 January 2023. Former Playground Games Creative Director Mike Brown today announced the formation of new AAA game development studio, Maverick Games. Led by an all-star leadership team, Maverick Games is now developing a new, premium open-world game for consoles and PC.
 

Maverick Games is founded with an independent, pioneering spirit and a commitment to place developers’ creativity, innovation, and wellbeing at the heart of the studio. An all-new studio with a forward-looking culture, Maverick Games is an environment where talented individuals are supported, inspired, and empowered to create.
 

Maverick’s founding team is led by Mike Brown as Creative Director and Studio Head. He is joined by Harinder Sangha as COO (previously Co-studio Head, Sumo Digital Leamington). Also from Playground Games, having recently shipped the multi-award winning Forza Horizon 5, are Tom Butcher as Executive Producer, Matt Craven as CTO, Gareth Harwood as Content Director and Fraser Strachan as Audio Director. Ben Penrose joins as Art Director from Sharkmob London having previously been Playground Games’ Studio Art Director, and Elly Marshall rounds out the leadership team as UX/UI Director (previously Experience Design Director at EA).
 

“Our goal is for Maverick Games to be a studio people will love,” said Mike Brown. “For players, we’re already at work on an exciting ultra-high quality title, and for developers, we’re building a home where everyone is encouraged to take risks, be curious, be creative, be innovative, be themselves, and above all – be a Maverick.”
 

Maverick has secured significant seed funding and is actively working on its new game. Maverick Games joins Leamington Spa’s thriving game development scene and is currently recruiting for roles from graduate to lead across all disciplines.
 

Find out more about Maverick Games’ vision at www.maverick-games.com and follow the team on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
 

Media Contact
Emma Withington @ Honest PR
maverick@honest-pr.com         
 

About Maverick
Maverick Games is a new game development studio based in Leamington Spa, UK. Maverick is founded with an independent, pioneering spirit and a commitment to place developers’ creativity, innovation, and wellbeing at the heart of the studio. Maverick is currently working on its first title – a new, premium open-world game. Be inspired. Be creative. Be innovative. Be a Maverick.