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Tencent’s Strategic Investment in Maverick Games: A Deep Dive
Tencent’s recent investment in Maverick Games, a new studio founded by veterans of Playground Games, marks another significant move by the Chinese tech giant to expand its influence in the global gaming industry. This investment underscores Tencent’s strategy of backing promising studios with experienced talent, while also highlighting a trend of key personnel leaving established companies to pursue new ventures. Let’s delve into the details of this investment, the context surrounding Maverick Games’ formation, and the broader implications for the gaming landscape.
Maverick Games: A New Force Emerges
Maverick Games is a Leamington Spa-based studio founded in early 2023 by former Playground Games creative director Mike Brown, best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series. The studio’s core team includes several other ex-Playground Games veterans, such as executive producer Tom Butcher, CTO Matt Craven, content director Gareth Harwood, and audio director Fraser Strachan. Joining them are Ben Penrose as Art Director, previously at Sharkmob and Playground Games, and Elly Marshall as UX/UI Director, who formerly held the role of experience design director at EA. This impressive lineup of experienced developers signals Maverick Games’ ambition to create high-quality, innovative titles.
The studio’s mission is to foster a creative and risk-taking environment where developers are empowered to bring their boldest ideas to life. Mike Brown has emphasized the importance of encouraging staff to speak up and take creative risks, fostering a culture where innovation is celebrated. Maverick Games aims to break away from established industry norms, allowing its team to explore new possibilities in game development.
Currently, Maverick Games has a core team of around 62 developers and plans to expand to approximately 140 employees. The studio is focused on creating a “premium” open-world AAA game for consoles and PC. While specific details about the game remain scarce, Brown has hinted that it may not necessarily be a driving game, despite the team’s extensive experience in the Forza Horizon series. He describes himself as more of an “open-world guy” and envisions the project as an ambitious title with the potential to win numerous awards. In partnership with Amazon Games, Maverick is developing a narrative-led, open-world driving game, aiming to add new layers of appeal to the genre.
Tencent’s Expanding Gaming Empire
Tencent has grown into the world’s largest video gaming company through strategic investments and acquisitions. The company owns Riot Games (League of Legends), Sharkmob, Funcom, Sumo Group, and Leyou (parent of Digital Extremes and Splash Damage), and holds significant stakes in Epic Games, Ubisoft, Krafton, and other prominent game developers. This vast portfolio gives Tencent a major foothold in various segments of the gaming market.
Tencent’s investment strategy involves both internal game development and external partnerships. The company’s internal studio groups, including TiMi Studio Group and LightSpeed Studios, develop popular mobile games and other titles. Meanwhile, Tencent’s investments in studios like Maverick Games allow it to tap into innovative ideas and creative talent from independent developers.
The Chinese tech giant’s gaming investments accounted for 16.7% of its total investment portfolio as of October 2024. This demonstrates Tencent’s commitment to the gaming industry and its willingness to support promising studios and projects. By investing in Maverick Games, Tencent gains access to a team with a proven track record in the open-world racing genre and an opportunity to expand its portfolio with a potentially groundbreaking new IP.
A Hub of Talent in Leamington Spa
Maverick Games is based in Leamington Spa, a town in the UK that has become a prominent hub for game development. The area is home to numerous established studios and offers a supportive environment for new ventures. COO Harinder Sangha, who has experience forming Sega Hardlight and Sumo Leamington, notes that finding office space in Leamington Spa can be challenging due to the high demand.
The presence of other successful studios in Leamington Spa provides Maverick Games with access to a skilled talent pool and a network of industry professionals. The town’s vibrant gaming community fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing, creating a fertile ground for innovation.
The “Forza Horizon” Brain Drain
The formation of Maverick Games and Lighthouse Games, another studio founded by ex-Playground Games co-founder Gavin Raeburn, highlights a talent exodus from Playground Games. These departures raise questions about the future direction of Playground Games and the Forza Horizon franchise.
Gavin Raeburn, who spent 12 years at Playground Games and helped grow the Forza Horizon series into a major Xbox franchise, left the company in early 2022. He founded Lighthouse Games with the intention of creating a “disruptive” driving game that would challenge Forza Horizon’s dominance. Raeburn brought over 45 developers from Playground Games and Codemasters to Lighthouse, further emphasizing the studio’s ambition and expertise.
Mike Brown’s departure to form Maverick Games adds to the brain drain at Playground Games. While Playground Games continues to work on the Fable reboot and future Forza Horizon titles, the loss of key personnel could impact the studio’s creative vision and development capabilities. It remains to be seen how Playground Games will adapt to these changes and maintain its position in the racing game genre.
A New Era for Driving Games?
The emergence of Maverick Games and Lighthouse Games signals a potential shift in the driving game landscape. Both studios aim to innovate and push the boundaries of the genre, offering players new experiences and perspectives.
Maverick Games, with its focus on narrative and open-world gameplay, seeks to create a driving game that transcends traditional racing mechanics. By partnering with Amazon Games, Maverick aims to leverage the company’s resources and expertise to create a unique and compelling gaming experience.
Lighthouse Games, led by Gavin Raeburn, is determined to challenge Forza Horizon’s dominance with a “disruptive” driving game. While specific details remain under wraps, Raeburn’s track record in the genre and the studio’s experienced team suggest that Lighthouse is poised to make a significant impact.
With these new studios entering the fray, the driving game genre could be on the cusp of a creative resurgence, offering players a diverse range of experiences and challenging established norms.
Conclusion
Tencent’s investment in Maverick Games is a strategic move that aligns with its broader ambitions in the gaming industry. By backing a studio with a proven track record and a clear vision, Tencent gains access to innovative ideas and a potentially groundbreaking new IP. The formation of Maverick Games, along with Lighthouse Games, highlights a talent exodus from Playground Games and a potential shift in the driving game landscape. As these new studios embark on their respective journeys, the gaming world will be watching closely to see how they reshape the genre and challenge established norms.