Maverick Games revealed its first project, a cinematic open-world racing and action-driving game titled CLUTCH, in a trailer released Friday.

The announcement marks the debut of a studio led by Mike Brown, the former creative director of Forza Horizon. By combining talent from Playground Games and Codemasters, the project aims to blend narrative storytelling with high-fidelity driving mechanics, a combination that could challenge existing leaders in the racing genre.

According to the official trailer, the game is designed as a story-driven experience. The GameSpot editorial team said the title is brought to the public by veteran developers from Playground Games and Codemasters [2]. This pedigree suggests a focus on the open-world exploration and technical polish associated with the Forza series.

Wishlisting for the title opened June 5, 2026 [2]. The studio has set a planned launch window for spring 2027 [1].

CLUTCH will be available across three major platforms. The game is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via digital storefronts [1]. The reveal trailer emphasizes a cinematic approach to the racing experience, moving beyond traditional circuit-based competition to focus on a cohesive plot.

Maverick Games did not provide specific gameplay details during the reveal, but the trailer served as the primary vehicle to generate awareness and pre-orders. The voice-over in the trailer said, "Welcome to CLUTCH" [2].

“Clutch is a new story driven, open world racing game brought to you by veteran developers from Playground Games and Codemasters.”

The formation of Maverick Games represents a significant migration of talent from established racing franchises. By leveraging the expertise of former Forza Horizon leadership, the studio is positioning CLUTCH to fill a gap in the market for narrative-heavy racing games, potentially shifting the industry focus from pure simulation toward cinematic, story-led experiences.