{"id":5003,"date":"2026-06-03T23:23:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:23:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/?p=5003"},"modified":"2026-06-03T23:24:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:24:53","slug":"clutch-maverick-games-open-world-racing-game-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/clutch-maverick-games-open-world-racing-game-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"Clutch: Everything We Know About Maverick Games’ Open-World Racing Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maverick Games has officially revealed Clutch, a cinematic open-world action driving game led by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown. Set on the French Riviera, Clutch launches spring 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Maverick Games officially revealed Clutch<\/strong> on June 2, 2026, marking the debut title from the independent UK studio founded by Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown. Described as a “cinematic open-world action-driving game,” Clutch is heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC in spring 2027. The roughly 140-person team has been developing the game for over three and a half years, and a full trailer will premiere at the Summer Game Fest Showcase on June 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Is Maverick Games?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maverick Games was established in December 2022 in Leamington Spa, England, just a short distance from Playground Games. Studio head and creative director Mike Brown<\/strong> served as creative director on Forza Horizon 5 and a designer on Forza Horizon 4. He is joined by a core leadership team of Playground Games veterans including executive producer Tom Butcher, chief technical officer Matt Craven, art director Ben Penrose, and content director Gareth Harwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studio initially secured a publishing deal with Amazon Games in 2024, but Amazon pulled out of the agreement in early 2026 as part of a broader retreat from game publishing. Crucially, Maverick retained the rights to Clutch and has continued development independently while actively seeking a new publishing partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Story-Driven Racing Game Written by the Co-Creator of Skins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clutch centres on a strong narrative campaign, a deliberate departure from the festival-driven structure of Forza Horizon. The story is written by Jamie Brittain<\/strong>, co-creator of the BAFTA-winning British TV series Skins<\/em>, and follows two sibling racing prodigies navigating two contrasting worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is the R1K<\/strong>, a prestigious, century-old motorsport championship that serves as the proving ground for the world’s best drivers. The second is the Midnight Collective<\/strong>, an underground community of car enthusiasts who reject the money and fame of the official circuit in favour of style and the raw thrill of speed. When the protagonist lands in trouble and seeks the help of a fixer, the dark underbelly of the R1K is exposed, merging the two worlds into a single high-stakes narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open-World PvPvE: How Clutch Actually Plays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maverick Games describes Clutch as a living PvPvE<\/strong> open world. Players compete for position, reputation and rewards not just against AI opponents and police, but also against other real players sharing the same world. The studio promises a mix of handcrafted story missions and spontaneous race-and-chase chaos that evolves dynamically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The structure appears to split between legitimate circuit racing during the day, tied to the R1K storyline, and illegal street racing at night under the Midnight Collective banner. On top of that, heist missions, police pursuits and high-speed getaways form a significant part of the gameplay loop. The setting, based on visual clues like French licence plates in the reveal footage, points strongly to the French Riviera<\/strong>, with some speculation that the map could extend into northern Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car Customisation That Goes Deeper Than Any Rival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Clutch’s boldest claims is its approach to vehicle personalisation. Beyond the expected exterior options like wheels, body kits, exhaust tips, neon underglow and window tints, Maverick is introducing full interior customisation<\/strong>. Players can swap seats, steering wheels and interior trim, then add personal clutter: coffee cups in the cupholder, hoodies on the passenger seat, expired parking passes on the dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visual philosophy extends to how cars age and wear. Rather than the showroom-fresh look standard in racing games, Clutch’s vehicles show dust accumulation, tyre wear, leather cracks and carbon residue around exhausts. Every detail is designed to build a personal connection between driver and machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clutch Tech Mods and Action Mechanics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clutch Tech mods<\/strong> add a layer of action to the driving experience. Confirmed examples include NOS (nitrous oxide boost) and, notably, a grappling cable<\/strong> that fires from the front of the car, allowing players to slingshot around lampposts during high-speed chases. These mechanics signal a tone closer to Fast & Furious<\/em> than the relatively grounded driving of Forza Horizon, giving Clutch an identity that sits somewhere between arcade racing and cinematic action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confirmed Car List So Far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reveal footage and pre-release screenshots have confirmed a diverse roster of licensed vehicles. Based on analysis from multiple outlets, the following cars have been identified:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Porsche:<\/strong> 911 Turbo (930), 911 GT3 S\/C, 718 Cayman GT4, 718 Boxster Spyder, Carrera GT, Boxster (986)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Aston Martin:<\/strong> Valhalla, Vanquish (2024), Vantage (2024)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • BMW:<\/strong> 850 CSi (E31), M3 GTR (E46)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Nissan:<\/strong> Skyline GT-R (R34), 350Z<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Other:<\/strong> Mazda RX-7 (FD), Alfa Romeo 4C, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Renault M\u00e9gane RS (Mk1 and Mk4), Land Rover Defender 90, Lotus Emira, Ford Focus RS Mk1, Fiat Multipla (traffic car)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The Porsche 911 GT3 S\/C appears to be the game’s signature car, and notably, it is the first time this model has appeared in a video game. A much larger car list is expected to be confirmed at Summer Game Fest and in the months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Technical Foundation: Custom Unreal Engine 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Clutch runs on a customised version of Unreal Engine 5<\/strong>. Maverick Games also confirmed the development of a proprietary physics engine<\/strong>, built to tailor vehicle behaviour specifically to Clutch’s blend of racing, action and open-world exploration. According to Mike Brown, the custom UE5 build allows a level of detail and accuracy in car models “never before seen in in-game car models.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Does Clutch Compare to Forza Horizon 6?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The timing of Clutch’s reveal, just two weeks after Forza Horizon 6 launched on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, makes the comparison inevitable. Both are open-world driving games built by teams with deep roots in the Horizon franchise, but their design philosophies diverge sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feature<\/th>Clutch<\/th>Forza Horizon 6<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Setting<\/td>French Riviera (likely)<\/td>Japan<\/td><\/tr>
    Story<\/td>Deep narrative campaign with named characters<\/td>Festival progression structure<\/td><\/tr>
    Multiplayer<\/td>PvPvE open world<\/td>Shared open world<\/td><\/tr>
    Crime\/Police<\/td>Heists, police chases, underground racing<\/td>Not present<\/td><\/tr>
    Engine<\/td>Custom Unreal Engine 5<\/td>ForzaTech<\/td><\/tr>
    Platforms<\/td>PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC<\/td>Xbox Series X|S, PC (PS5 later in 2026)<\/td><\/tr>
    Release<\/td>Spring 2027<\/td>May 19, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Clutch leans into narrative, crime elements and action mechanics that Forza Horizon has never explored. The combination has drawn comparisons to both classic Need for Speed titles and, to a degree, GTA’s open-world driving structure. Maverick is not the only former Playground team chasing this space either: Lighthouse Games<\/strong>, led by Playground founder Gavin Raeburn, is also developing a competing open-world racer from the same Leamington Spa area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Release Date, Platforms and What Comes Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Clutch is confirmed for a spring 2027<\/strong> launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The first full trailer and a detailed look at the story, cast, setting and stakes will be revealed at the Summer Game Fest Showcase on June 5, 2026<\/strong>, starting at 2 PM PT \/ 5 PM ET \/ 11 PM CET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Questions Worth Asking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Who is making Clutch?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Maverick Games, a roughly 140-person independent studio based in Leamington Spa, UK. It was founded in December 2022 by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown alongside several other Playground Games veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Is Clutch a Forza Horizon clone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    No. While the open-world driving DNA is clearly shared, Clutch differentiates itself with a strong narrative campaign penned by Skins co-creator Jamie Brittain, a crime and underground racing layer, PvPvE multiplayer, police chases, heist missions and action mechanics like grappling hooks. It has more in common with a cross between Forza Horizon and Need for Speed than with either franchise alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Does Clutch have a publisher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Not currently. Amazon Games withdrew from its publishing agreement in early 2026. Maverick Games retained full rights to the project and is continuing development independently while searching for a new publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When does Clutch release?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Spring 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. An exact date has not been announced yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What engine does Clutch run on?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A custom version of Unreal Engine 5, combined with a proprietary physics engine developed by Maverick Games specifically for this title.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Maverick Games has officially revealed Clutch, a cinematic open-world action driving game led by former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown. Set on the French Riviera, Clutch launches spring 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[285],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gaming-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5003"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5005,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5003\/revisions\/5005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}