Clutch brings former Forza Horizon developers back to open world racing in 2027

A new racing game called Clutch is coming from Maverick Games, a studio led by former Forza Horizon creative director Mike Brown. The game is planned for spring 2027 and will launch on PC, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5.

Clutch is being pitched as a story driven open world racing game with deep customization, multiplayer, and a sandbox built around personal car culture. Maverick Games revealed the project after a long countdown stream, giving racing fans their first look at what the studio has been building.

The story follows two siblings who are described as racing prodigies. They enter a historic driving competition called R1K, where they are trying to reach the top. Around that official racing series, an underground driving scene has also formed, giving the game room for street racing, open world activities, and getaway gameplay involving police.

That mix makes Clutch sound like it is aiming for a space between Forza Horizon and Need for Speed. The game has the open world racing background of its developers, but it also appears to lean into a more dramatic story, underground racing culture, and high risk driving outside official events.

The development team is one of the biggest reasons Clutch is already attracting attention. Mike Brown helped shape the Forza Horizon series, and Maverick Games includes several former Playground Games developers. That experience matters because open world racing games are difficult to balance. They need strong driving feel, a rewarding map, varied events, good progression, and enough personality to stand out.

Maverick Games says Clutch is being built on a custom version of Unreal Engine 5 with its own physics system. That suggests the studio is not simply relying on default tools. Driving games depend heavily on physics, handling, surface feel, and vehicle response, so a custom system could be important if the team wants Clutch to feel distinct.

Customization is also being treated as a major pillar. Brown said the team wants to set a new benchmark in car customization, with a focus on the connection between the driver and the vehicle. That sounds like Maverick wants your car to feel like more than a menu item or a set of upgrades. The goal appears to be deeper personal identity through the vehicle itself.

The timing is interesting because the racing genre has room for a new major player. EA is reportedly taking a break from new Need for Speed games, while Forza Horizon remains Microsoft’s biggest open world racing series. Clutch could benefit from players looking for something fresh, especially if it can deliver a strong open world and customization system.

There is still a lot Maverick Games has not shown. The studio has not detailed the full map, car list, multiplayer structure, progression system, or how police chases will work. More information is expected on June 5, 2026, during the Summer Game Fest Showcase.

For now, Clutch looks like one of the more promising new racing games on the horizon. It has an experienced team, a clear focus on customization, and a setting that blends official competition with underground driving. If Maverick Games can turn that promise into a strong driving experience, Clutch could become a serious new name in open world racing.