Forza Horizon veterans found new studio focused on open-world “premium” games

Forza Horizon developer Playground Games have broken away to develop new open-worlds at their own studio. Maverick Games is based in Leamington Spa, UK, and headed up by Forza Horizon 5’s creative director Mike Brown. Brown also fills the role of creative director at Maverick. Harinder Sangha, formerly of Sega Hardlight and Sumo Leamington, will run the studio as chief operations officer.

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Ex-Striking Distance devs say they were omitted from The Callisto Protocol’s credits

The Callisto Protocol have spoken out after not being credited for their work on the game. Five people who used to work for developers Striking Distance spoke to GamesIndustry.biz, and said that they didn’t make it onto The Callisto Protocol’s credits. Other sources told the site that around 20 staff from several departments were omitted, including senior developers, leads, and directors, some of whom had worked at the studio for more than a year.

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Forspoken’s cinematic trailer shows a world the demo suggests it might not live up to

Forspoken, Square Enix’s upcoming action RPG with magic-infused parkour. A demo did indeed come out in December, but only on PS5 – and to very mixed reviews. It’s a shame, because the world on show in its latest cinematic trailer looks appetisingly stylish.

The game comes out on January 24th, so we’ll know for sure soon enough.

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Sons Of The Forest will have a three-limbed mutant companion and enemy monsters with personalities

Sons Of The Forest may have been delayed, but they’re still very much coming to get you. We’re creeping ever closer to the hit survival sequel’s February 23rd release date, but IGN have lead the foray with a hands-on preview that reveals a little more about what to expect. Expect mutants with improved AI and individual tastes, better building, and companions you can boss around.

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