Several developers from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games have left Microsoft, and have formed a new studio called Maverick Games. According to Eurogamer, the departures include former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown, Playground’s lead producer Tom Butcher, technical director Matt Craven, technical art director Gareth Harwood, art director Ben Penrose, and audio director Fraser Stachan.
The studio is already working on its first game thanks to it having secured “significant” seed funding, a new “premium open-world game” for consoles and PC.
“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,” the developer said in a statement.