Forza Horizon 5’s creative director’s new studio Maverick Games unveils narrative-driven racer title Clutch

Maverick Games, an independent studio founded by Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown, has unveiled its debut title, Clutch. This is a cinematic open-world action-driving game scheduled to launch in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game combines professional circuit racing with underground street racing, placing players in an open-world environment that blends story-driven campaigns, race-and-chase gameplay and vehicle customisation. The announcement marks the first project from Maverick Games, which Brown established after his work with Playground Games on Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Horizon 4.According to the studio, Clutch follows sibling racing prodigies competing in the R1K, a racing competition that has served as a proving ground for elite drivers for a century. Alongside the official racing scene is the Midnight Collective, an underground group of racers focused on style and high-speed competition. The story centres on a protagonist who becomes entangled in the hidden side of the R1K after seeking help from a fixer. A more detailed look at the game's story, world and cast is set to be revealed during the Summer Game Fest Showcase on June 5.Maverick Games said Clutch will feature a living PvPvE world where players compete for position, reputation and rewards while dealing with rival crews, pursuits and shifting alliances. The studio said players will take part in both structured and spontaneous events, including races and missions designed to encourage different approaches to gameplay. The open-world environment will also feature action-focused chase sequences and unscripted encounters.“Maverick has assembled a dream team of car lovers and driving fans with decades of experience building genre-defining open-world racing games. Our mission from day-one is for Clutch to push the genre into a new era, innovate through new types of open-world sandbox gameplay and deliver a generational leap on the staples of why we love driving games,” said Mike Brown, Creative Director and Founder of Maverick Games. “The studio said vehicle personalisation will play a central role in Clutch. Beyond paint schemes, decals and aftermarket parts, players will be able to customise smaller details that shape the relationship between the driver and the vehicle.According to Maverick Games, the title uses a proprietary physics engine and allows players to build vehicles tailored to both performance and personal style. Progression will reward both racing results and creative customisation choices.Founded in Leamington Spa, England, Maverick Games is currently focused on developing Clutcha as its first release. The studio said additional details about gameplay systems, characters and the game's world will be shared in the months leading up to launch.