Maverick Games announces Clutch, a new UE5-engined racer focusing on the bond between driver and car. Follow two sibling prodigies tearing through a world split between elite pro racing and gritty underground car culture, packed with insanely deep vehicle customisation. Coming in 2027.
After teasing the reveal for days with a countdown timer set up in a Fiat Multipla that doubled as their podcast studio while parked in the Maverick Games’ office, the studios’ now highly anticipated debut title, Clutch, got it’s first public showing in the build-up to an official WORLD EXCLUSIVE TRAILER (did you hear Geoff Keighlys’ voice there?!) during Summer Game Fest on 5 June. (aka, tomorrow).
Clutch delivers a breathtaking cinematic open-world driving experience, combining high-speed racing with deep, story-based mechanics where every race drives the narrative forward.
Maverick Games introduces Clutch, an upcoming racing experience built on Unreal Engine 5 that emphasizes the deep connection between driver and vehicle. This project features intricate vehicle customization, a story centered on sibling racing prodigies, and a vibrant world that balances the prestige of a professional racing series with the underground culture of driving enthusiasts.
When resident MEW petrolhead and Need For Speeder @DohcWP says a driving game “looks amazing”, you pay attention. I mean, his credentials are right there in his name. So, fellow virtual speed demons, buckle up for a look at Clutch.
If you have been wondering what the ex-Forza Horizon developers have been cooking up over at their new independent studio, Maverick Games, we finally have our answer. It is called Clutch, and it is shaping up to be an absolute beast of an open-world action-driving game.
Set to drop in the spring of 2027 for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Clutch is built on a heavily modified version of Unreal Engine 5. From the stunning reveal trailer, it looks like it is going to perfectly mash up the peerless driving physics of Forza with the narrative-driven, underground street racing vibes of Need for Speed.
Welcome to Maverick Games
Maverick Games isn’t just another new studio rolling up to the starting line; it is an absolute powerhouse of racing game royalty. Based in Leamington Spa in the UK, the independent studio was founded in 2022 by Mike Brown, the former creative director behind the wildly successful Forza Horizon 5.
When Brown left Playground Games, he brought a crew of other Forza franchise veterans with him, eventually building a team of around 140 developers that also includes ex-Codemasters and EA developers.
Now, after more than three years of full-time development, the studio finally announced its mystery project during a livestream turned launch event, hosted by Brown.
Featuring an “immersive narrative”, Clutch combines professional circuit competitions with underground street racing and cinematic chases.
Pro circuit by day, street chaos by night
The game is set in a gorgeous, sun-drenched coastal environment that gives off massive French Riviera energy. Think the streets in the foothills around Monaco or Saint-Tropez.
You follow the story of two sibling racing prodigies leading a dangerous double life. By day, they are making their mark in the R1K, a highly prestigious racing series with a 100-year history.
By night, they are tearing up the asphalt with the Midnight Collective, an underground crew obsessed with style and raw speed. Naturally, things go sideways, pulling our heroes into the dark, criminal underbelly of the R1K league. Expect high-stakes heists, massive police chases, and absolute unscripted chaos in a living PvPvE world.
Cockpit clutter and “signs of love”
Where Clutch really caught my attention is in the customisation possibilities. We are used to slapping on crazy body kits, massive wings and neon underglows, and we’ll get tons of exterior customisation options here too. But Maverick Games is also taking customisation inside the car.
They are giving us deep, hyper-detailed interior customisation. We are talking about tossing a jacket on the passenger seat, leaving old parking tickets on the dashboard, or placing a drink in the cup holder. On top of that, classic cars like the vintage Porsche 911 or BMW 850 CSi will not look factory-fresh. They feature realistic wear and tear with creased leather seats, scratched plastic, and worn steering wheels. Brown calls these “signs of love.” It is all about making the car feel like it is truly yours and has actually been lived in, driven, used.
And there’s grappling hooks. Yes, really.
If you thought it was just about clean racing lines, think again. The reveal showed off something called “Clutch Tech” mods. In one wild sequence, a Nissan Skyline GT-R literally fires a grappling hook at a pole to slingshot itself around a sharp corner while evading the cops. It’s a cinematic scene giving off major Fast & Furious and Need For Speed energy.
At the end of the day, it’s all about the cars
The car roster looks to featuring a solid mix of European exotics, JDM legends, and even a few SUVs like the Land Rover Defender thrown into the mix.
In addition to the Defender being customised, the launch video also features the Porsche 911 Turbo, an Aston Martin Vantage to the BMW 850 CSi and Nissan 350Z. There’s even a BMW M3 GTR in a nod to NFS Most Wanted.
Martin Bigg at Traxion.GG is tracking all the cars as they get shown in Mavericks’ social media posts and the reveal videos. You can find the list, which is currently up to 25 different models, here:
Brown also revealed that a select number of YouTube streamers had been invited to the studio and got to meet and chat to the devs, and get some hands-on time with a game build in the studio. One of them was the ever excitable BlackPanthaa. Here’s his insights:
More details on the game will (hopefully) come with the official trailer at SGF26.
