Maverick Games’ bizarre countdown featuring a Fiat Multipla finally ticked down to zero last night, and the mystery title now has a name: Clutch. After over three years of development, the studio founded by Playground Games (Forza Horizon) and Codemasters (F1, Dirt Rally) alumni is ready to give its first look at its cinematic AAA racing game.
The five-minute reveal video is narrated by Mike Brown, former creative director for Forza Horizon 5, and he walks us through the initial details of the world Clutch.
Clutch will focus on a pair of protagonists, racing prodigy siblings competing in the elite R1K racing series, while also being involved with the Midnight Collective undergound scene. Like in Need for Speed Heat, this double life of pro and street racing is set to be a central theme in the narrative.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
Vlogger who faked an LTO show cause order just for clout gets summoned by the agency
The limited-edition GRMN Corolla is the ‘ultimate’ form of Toyota’s hot hatch
The setting appears to be inspired by the real-world French Riviera which covers luxurious locations like Monaco and Saint-Tropez. The warm, sun-bathed scenery also evokes a bit of Forza Horizon 2, itself partially set in southern France.
Moving onto the real star of the show: the cars. Special attention was given to interiors, especially for retro models like the Porsche 911 and BMW 850CSi. These cockpits in particular have been rendered with an aged, lived-in look. Brown calls the worn plastic on consoles and creased leather on seats “signs of love” and proof that these cars have “actually been driven, [and] been on an adventure.”
Clutch will be built on a custom version of Unreal Engine 5 to achieve photorealistic fidelity a la Forza or Gran Turismo. This has raised some gamers’ eyebrows, given Unreal Engine’s reputation as a resource hog. Nevertheless, recent racing games like Screamer and Tokyo Xtreme Racer have managed good performance using the same platform, so hopefully Clutch can continue this trend.
While we don’t have an official list of makes or models just yet, the trailer does showcase heavy European representation through brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, and BMW. These manufacturers are complemented by the presence of JDM models by Nissan, Mazda, and Subaru. It’s shaping up to be a curated catalog, instead of an all-you-can-drive buffet. The appearance of a Land Rover also confirms some SUVs will be in the game—take that how you will.
The all-important aspect of car customization was also given highlight. While it leans towards the NFS and TXR side of customization with things like colorful liveries and flashy underglow, we haven’t seen crazy bodykits yet. But exterior customization is quite literally just the surface as Maverick goes deep with interior customization.
One of the highights of the reveal has to be the introduction of interior customization, letting you swap out little proofs of life to show that you’ve been spending time in your car: a jacket tossed onto the passenger seat, cupholders holding drinks, and even stray parking tickets on the dashboard. Some elements even appear to be able to be manually placed. It’s clear that Maverick Games wants to give you all the opportunities to call a car your own with personalization like that. The only title that comes to mind that can match this level of granularity is Grand Theft Auto Online, and even that only supports it for specific cars.
No fluffy dice to hang on the rearview mirror though. At least they promised to add it down the line.
Last but certainly not least is the story, which Maverick Games is touting as a core selling point to Clutch. The premise so far sees the protagonists roped into trouble while competing in the R1K, leading them into the treacherous underworld lurking beneath the league’s glamorous surface. It’s an intriguing pitch that wouldn’t feel out of place in a GTA title. We can also expect big action set pieces too, if the clip of an Aston Martin driving through a casino with cops giving chase was any indication.
Oh yeah, they also gave a Skyline GT-R a grappling hook. The developers call it a ‘Clutch Tech’ mod usable in both open-world exploration and chase sequences. For now, the GT-R grappling hook looks like it can help with making sharp angle adjustments while evading pursuers. We’ll have to wait see if these gadgets lean towards Hot Pursuit (tactical EMPs, spike strips) or Speed Racer (jump jacks, saw blades).
Besides a 2027 release window, that’s all that Maverick Games shared at the reveal. A more narrative-heavy trailer has been promised to come soon, though, likely at Summer Game Fest later this week as part of the show.
So Clutch is Forza Horizon meets Need for Speed, with hints of Grand Theft Auto and Test Drive Unlimited in the mix. It certainly hits the notes that racing game fans have been craving for some time now, especially in-depth customization and compelling storylines. But it still has its work cut out for it, releasing so soon after Forza Horizon 6—not to mention the looming shadow of Grand Theft Auto 6. I’m staying cautiously optimistic for an original IP like this, but what do you think so far?
