Maverick Games
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Video game industry |
| Founded 📆 | January 2023 |
| Founders 👔 | Mike Brown Harinder Sangha Ben Penrose Tom Butcher Matt Craven Gareth Harwood Fraser Strachan Elly Marshall |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , Warwick, England , United Kingdom |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people | Mike Brown (CEO and creative director) |
| Products 📟 | Clutch |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | maverick-games |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Maverick Games Ltd is a British independent video game developer based in Warwick, England. Founded in 2023 by former Forza Horizon creative director Mike Brown, the studio assembled a team of veterans from Playground Games and Codemasters to develop AAA open-world titles for consoles and PC.[1][2] Its debut game, the open-world action-driving title Clutch, was announced in June 2026 and is scheduled for release in spring 2027.[3][4]
History
Maverick Games was established in January 2023 by Mike Brown, who had previously served as creative director on Forza Horizon 5 (2021) and as a designer on Forza Horizon 2, 3 and 4.[3] Brown left Playground Games to found the studio alongside several other senior developers, including co-founders Harinder Sangha (formerly of Sumo Digital), Ben Penrose (Playground Games), Tom Butcher (Playground Games), Matt Craven (Playground Games), Gareth Harwood (Playground Games), Fraser Strachan (Playground Games) and Elly Marshall (Codemasters).[1][2] Based in Warwick, close to the "Silicon Spa" cluster of game studios, the company drew staff from nearby Playground Games and Codemasters.[2]
At its founding, the studio described itself as a AAA developer where staff would be "trusted, inspired, and empowered to take creative risks." It secured what it described as significant seed funding and began work on a premium open-world game for consoles and PC.[1][2]
Amazon Games was originally lined up to publish the studio's debut title, but withdrew in 2026 as part of a broader retreat from third-party publishing. Despite the loss of that partnership, development continued, and the studio confirmed its project remained in active development when it revealed Clutch in 2026.[5]
Clutch
Clutch is the studio's debut game, an open-world, cinematic action-driving title. It was announced on 2 June 2026, ahead of a full trailer shown during the Summer Game Fest showcase on 5 June 2026.[4][3] The game is scheduled to launch in spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.[3]
Premise and setting
Set on the French Riviera, Clutch features a story-driven campaign following a pair of racing siblings. By day, characters compete in a prestigious and historic sanctioned racing series called the Riviera 1000 (R1K); by night, they take part in an underground street-racing scene run by the Midnight Collective, a group of enthusiasts portrayed as caring about driving rather than the money and fame of the R1K. As the story unfolds, the protagonist becomes entangled with the seedier elements of this world amid shifting alliances and rival crews.[3][4] Reported cast members include Tosin Cole and the musician Little Simz.[6] The game's narrative was written by Scottish screenwriter Jamie Brittain, co-creator of the television series Skins.[4]
Gameplay and development
The game blends sanctioned circuit racing with underground street racing and cinematic chases within a "living" PvPvE open world featuring both hand-crafted and spontaneous missions. Maverick Games has emphasised deep vehicle customisation, allowing players to modify exteriors and interiors with real-world aftermarket parts down to fine details intended to reinforce "the connection between car and driver."[3]
Clutch runs on a custom version of Unreal Engine 5 along with a proprietary physics system. Brown said the game had been in development for around three and a half years—the longest of any project he had worked on—which allowed the team to pursue what it described as "a level of detail and accuracy never before seen in in-game car models," including authentic signs of wear on older vehicles.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Former Forza devs form Maverick Games to develop AAA open-world title for consoles and PC". Game World Observer. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Former Playground Games staff establish Maverick Games, developing 'premium open-world game' for consoles and PC". Gematsu. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Shea, Brian (2 June 2026). "Studio Founded By Forza Horizon 5 Director Announces Open-World Action-Driving Game Clutch". Game Informer. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Scullion, Chris (2 June 2026). "Ex-Forza Horizon devs reveal Clutch, their own open-world racing game". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ Chalk, Andy (2 June 2026). "Former Forza Horizon creative director reveals his studio's debut racer, which is still alive despite losing Amazon support". PC Gamer. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Clutch is Maverick Games' new AAA cinematic driving game, coming in 2027". Traxion. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
External links
Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom Category:Video game development companies Category:British companies established in 2023 Category:Companies based in Warwickshire
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