UK-based Maverick Games has unveiled its debut project, Clutch, described as a "cinematic open-world action-driving game." The story blends professional circuit racing with "action-packed underground race-and-chase sandbox gameplay where speed and style meet high-stakes pursuits and risky escapes."
Led by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown, Clutch is set to launch in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The campaign follows a pair of sibling driving prodigies navigating a prestigious racing tournament called the R1K—a proving ground for the world's top drivers for the past 100 years—and an underground car community known as Midnight Collective. When the hero finds himself in trouble and needs a fixer, "the underbelly of the R1K is smashed wide open."
A first look at the story, actors, and world of Clutch will be revealed at the Summer Game Fest Showcase on June 5.
Clutch features a living PvPvE action-driving world, where its "open-world sandbox unleashes blockbuster action and unscripted chaos in every high-speed getaway." One clip shows a car firing a grappling gadget at a pole and swinging around it.
Brown notes that Clutch benefits from the longest development of any game he's worked on. Running on a custom Unreal Engine 5, cars are recreated with perfect exterior curves, paint flecks, and interior stitches, but also show signs of wear and use.
Deep vehicle customization options are available, both interior and exterior, from steering wheels to exhaust tips, seats to neons. Human details like coffee cups in cupholders, receipts on dashboards, or hoodies on passenger seats add realism.
Brown explains: "Traditionally, the presentation has a museum-like quality, where cars are completely pristine. That creates a problem—it doesn't sit in the scene realistically. A 60-year-old car driving around a city would have dust, wear, sun damage. Adding those details makes it feel real and loved."
Brown founded Maverick in December 2022, shortly after Forza Horizon 5's release. "I had achieved a lot with Forza and wanted to do something new in the genre. With a successful franchise, it's hard to push in a new direction because business wants to keep it going. I saw an opportunity to do something different and fresher."
Brown left Playground Games to set up Maverick, joined by Forza Horizon veterans including producer Tom Butcher, technical director Matt Craven, technical art director Gareth Harwood, audio director Fraser Stachan, and art director Ben Penrose. The team has grown to about 140 people and remains independent.
"We're technically an indie dev, so we'll enter ourselves for indie game awards," Brown jokes. "We're two miles from Playground Games, still close with friends there. We didn't go into stealth mode; we've been open about our development, though we can't share specifics too early. We wanted to operate as an open, creative, innovative space, and that will show in the game."
Clutch aims to make a big splash in the racing genre. Brown says: "Historically, huge franchises have pushed car culture forward—Need for Speed Underground, Top Gear, Fast & Furious. That's the level of ambition for Clutch: to set the tone for car culture across the next decade and be that tentpole IP."
