Former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown teased the reveal of his new game just a few days ago. Now, Maverick Games has officially pulled back the curtain, giving us our first look at the project, along with some early details, including its name: Clutch.
Having sunk my teeth into Forza Horizon 6 since launch, I'm actually starting to warm up to the idea of trying other racing games again. It's a genre I've largely stepped away from over the years, with my last real venture outside of Forza dating back to the Xbox 360 era.
For those unaware, Maverick Games is made up of former Playground Games employees, alongside developers who previously worked on the Need for Speed franchise, making it what some might call a match made in heaven for racing fans (via GTPlanet).
The game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5, which may give some people the heebie-jeebies, and honestly, that's understandable. That said, based on what we've seen so far, Clutch is shaping up rather nicely, with impressive visuals and a strong first showing.
Honestly, having watched the reveal, the game is shaping up nicely. After more than three and a half years in development, Clutch follows the story of "a pair of sibling racing prodigies competing in the R1K racing series."
The studio also unveiled the Midnight Collective within the game, which it describes as: "Away from the pomp and the pageantry and commercialism of the R1K is the Midnight Collective... A group of car enthusiasts who don't care about the money and the fame of the R1K... They care about the love of driving and the raw thrill of speed."
What I believe will be the standout feature of the game, however, is the sheer level of customization on offer. I genuinely don't think any other racing game comes close to the number of options shown so far.
From the usual visual upgrades you'd expect on the outside of your car to surprisingly detailed interior customization, Clutch seems to let players make their vehicle feel unique. We're talking cups, hoodies, dashboard clutter, and other personal touches that go far beyond the customization options found in most racing games today.
With all that said, let me know your thoughts on Clutch. It can obviously exist alongside Forza Horizon, but I think it's great to see the genre potentially gain another serious contender and some healthy competition.
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