Ex-Forza Horizon Director Mike Brown Reveals Clutch

Mike Brown, former creative director of the Forza Horizon series, revealed Clutch during a livestream. Maverick Games is developing the title as a AAA open-world driving game for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC with a planned release window of spring 2027.

Maverick said Clutch pairs formal circuit competition with an underground street racing scene. The game frames the R1K series as a proving ground for racers while the Midnight Collective focuses on custom cars and street events. The studio described the game world as a “living PvPvE action-driving world,” where players will encounter both AI and human opponents across open-world challenges.

Gameplay will mix circuit events and street races with narrative elements and high-speed chase sequences. Maverick indicated the title will include detailed vehicle modeling, broad customization options and live PvPvE driving encounters that integrate player-versus-player races alongside AI-driven events.

Maverick reported roughly three and a half years of development on Clutch. The developer named manufacturer licenses that include Porsche, Aston Martin and BMW, and said those agreements support the game’s vehicle roster and visual presentation.

In the reveal stream Brown called Maverick “a dream team of car lovers and driving fans with decades of experience building genre-defining open-world racing games.” He added the studio aims for Clutch to innovate open-world sandbox gameplay and advance the core elements of driving titles.

Maverick confirmed the game will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC in spring 2027 but did not provide a specific date. The studio plans to present additional information and further gameplay footage at Summer Game Fest 2026 on Friday night and said more details will follow in the coming months.

The initial announcement did not include a full vehicle list, pricing, post-launch plans such as seasons or live-service features, or technical specifications and PC system requirements. The developer also did not disclose any platform exclusivity or subscription arrangements.