Has a successor to Forza Horizon emerged? First media impressions of Clutch

Maverick Games' racing game Clutch, after initial gameplay showcases, is drawing comparisons to Forza Horizon and Need for Speed. Journalists and influencers note the strong production and ambition of the project, which could become a major new player in the arcade racing genre.

Although a full gameplay trailer was not shown at Summer Game Fest, shortly after the event, the developers demonstrated the game to a closed group of journalists and bloggers.

According to journalists, the story cutscenes look "absurdly good," and the game's introduction is so well-made that it's easy to forget it's just a prologue to the races.

In the demo, players were given about an hour of free driving in Monaco. The controls in Clutch resemble Forza Horizon, but with a more pronounced realism, especially in drifting. At the same time, each car feels different, as there will not be hundreds of cars in the game, but several dozen. Among those confirmed are the Fiat Multipla, Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, and Aston Martin Valhalla. However, the AI still needs refinement: opponents sometimes brake sharply or accelerate unexpectedly.

A distinction from Forza will be the ability to exit the car in certain zones, walk around locations, participate in mini-games, and customize cars through vending machines. There will be no free roaming around the world – only limited zones. The campaign also supports co-op: one player drives the car, the other controls the gas. Because of this, Clutch will require a constant internet connection.

In addition to the single-player campaign, the game features 16-player multiplayer and a PvPvE mode where participants will try to steal the same car.

Clutch is scheduled for release in spring 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.