Racing game fans are always ready to get some fresh meat to sink their hooks into. While not exactly sparse, the genre tends to be a little bit niche when compared to things like shooters and RPGs, and so every racing dev is looking for a way to rope more new gamers into their little world. Maverick Games, a fledgling independent studio founded by Forza Horizon former creative director Mike Brown, has taken the route of open world action-driving with massive amounts of customization in their debut release, Clutch. There’s only an official reveal video so far, but there’s enough here to whet the appetite:
Brown leads us through the basics of this new title, including a heavy focus on the narrative of the drivers and the races they chase to seek greatness, and the extreme depth of customization cars receive, right down to such minute details as the trash sitting in your passenger’s seat. Some people live for this sort of customizing and some don’t, but what caught my eye was the little details on each car that made them feel truly driven and lived in as opposed to wheeled right off the lot.
For those who can’t wait for more info about what all this new team and racer have in store, you won’t have to wait long! The Summer Games Fest Showcase this Friday, June 5 will feature a new Clutch trailer, including additional info about the story, the protagonists, and the stakes of the setting!
Clutch is is scheduled for a 2027 release, with further details to come as they are made available. Read on for info about the game and its creators, Maverick Gamers:
Maverick Games, an independent studio founded by Mike Brown, former creative director on the Forza Horizon franchise, revealed its debut title, Clutch, a cinematic open-world action-driving game that redefines why we drive. Clutch takes players through an immersive narrative blending pro circuit racing with action-packed underground race-and-chase sandbox gameplay where speed and style meet high stakes pursuits and risky escapes. Clutch will launch in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Clutch’s cinematic narrative and story driven campaign are at the core of its dynamic open-world experience. It tells the story of sibling racing prodigies competing in the R1K, a historic series that’s been the proving ground for the world’s top drivers for 100 years. Away from the pomp and pageantry of the R1K is the underground Midnight Collective made up of those who love showing off their style and the raw thrill of speed. When the hero finds himself in trouble and in need of a fixer, the underbelly of the R1K is smashed wide open.
A first look at the story, actors, world and what’s at stake will be revealed at the Summer Game Fest Showcase on Friday, June 5.
“Maverick has assembled a dream team of car lovers and driving fans with decades of experience building genre-defining open-world racing games,” said Mike Brown, Creative Director and Founder of Maverick Games. “Our mission from day-one is for Clutch to push the genre into a new era, innovate through new types of open-world sandbox gameplay and deliver a generational leap on the staples of why we love driving games.”
In Clutch, players will compete for position, reputation and rewards while navigating shifting alliances, escalating pursuits and rival crews across a living PvPvE action-driving world. Players will progress through a diverse array of hand-crafted and spontaneous missions and races that break the mold of modern driving games and challenge player creativity at every turn. Clutch’s open-world sandbox unleashes blockbuster action and unscripted chaos in every high-speed getaway.
Clutch’s proprietary physics engine and deep vehicle personalization system allow players to build cars defined as much by identity and style as raw performance. Customization goes deeper than the custom paint or aftermarket parts, it’s in the tiny details of owning a car that build on the connection between car and driver. Players can create a true one-of-one car and the ride of their dreams in Clutch, being rewarded equally for both creative flair and finishing position.
