Open-World Racing Expansion
Focus Entertainment Partners With Maverick Games to Publish New Racing Title CLUTCH
Key Points
Clutch's Riviera open world includes diverse landmarks such as yacht-lined harbours, winding coastal roads, mountains, gorges, vineyards and hilltop villages, contributing to a varied driving environment.
The game's narrative centers on siblings Theo and Cass Martial, who are caught between the R1K pro circuit and the Midnight Collective in a conspiracy spanning the Riviera's racing world, tapping into themes of family, legacy and betrayal.
ClutchTech mods introduce experimental customization that players can master to differentiate vehicles, aligning performance with identity and lifestyle.
Maverick Games is an independent AAA studio based in Royal Leamington Spa, UK, founded in 2022 by Mike Brown, underscoring the creative leadership behind CLUTCH.
Mike Brown, founder of Maverick Games, says, 'We founded Maverick Games to build the open-world racing experience we'd dreamed about for years,' highlighting the collaborative ambition behind CLUTCH.
Focus Entertainment will publish CLUTCH, a cinematic open-world racing game from Maverick Games, launching Spring 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC Shack News. The game blends daytime professional racing on the French Riviera with nighttime underground street racing, marking Focus Entertainment's first venture into open-world racing The Outer Haven.
Maverick Games, founded in 2022 by Mike Brown (ex-Forza Horizon 5 director), built CLUTCH to deliver the open-world racing experience the team had dreamed about for years Worth Playing. The partnership expands Focus Entertainment's portfolio and positions CLUTCH as a flagship franchise for the independent UK studio Gematsu.
A Riviera World Built for Two Racing Lives
CLUTCH's open world spans the French Riviera with yacht-lined harbours, winding coastal roads, mountains, gorges, vineyards, and hilltop villages Push Square. Players race professionally by day in the R1K circuit, then join the Midnight Collective for street racing at night, creating distinct daytime and nighttime identities.
Sibling Rivalry and Conspiracy Drive the Story
The narrative follows siblings Theo and Cass Martial, racing prodigies caught between the R1K pro circuit and the Midnight Collective Worth Playing. A sprawling conspiracy across the Riviera's racing world explores themes of family, legacy, and betrayal, anchoring the action in character-driven storytelling.
ClutchTech Mods Let Players Build Their Identity
CLUTCH introduces ClutchTech—experimental vehicle customization that lets players differentiate cars and align performance with personal lifestyle Shack News. The system encourages mastery and identity expression, making each vehicle feel unique to how you play and who you are in the Riviera's world.
An Independent Studio's Bold First Step
Maverick Games, based in Royal Leamington Spa, UK, is a young independent AAA studio founded by Mike Brown in 2022 Gematsu. Brown led development on Forza Horizon 5 before starting Maverick. The Focus Entertainment partnership signals confidence in the studio's vision and creative leadership for CLUTCH's ambitious world.
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