A British racing studio has unveiled its ambitious debut title, Clutch, an open-world action-driving game that reimagines Monaco and the French Riviera as a sprawling playground for high-speed pursuits and underground street racing.
Maverick Games showed off the game during Summer Game Fest 2026, revealing a world inspired by the Mediterranean coastline stretching from Monaco west to Saint-Tropez, climbing toward the Alps, and reaching into the Verdon Gorge. The studio's founder Mike Brown explained that the version of Monaco players will explore is actually larger than the real city, allowing level designers to add breathing room while keeping every major road and landmark intact.
The world features three major coastal city hubs: Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez. Brown promised "a huge world to explore" where "everywhere you go there's real beautiful things to explore and see." Players will navigate vibrant city streets, tackle dramatic mountain switchbacks, and barrel down breathtaking coastal highways.
A Star-Studded Cast
The narrative follows Theo Martial and his younger sister Cass as they navigate three distinct racing worlds: professional circuit racing, an underground street scene called the Midnight Collective, and high-speed getaways. Scottish TV writer Jamie Brittain, who co-created the acclaimed drama Skins, penned the script.
Theo, a rising star in the prestigious Riviera 1000 racing tournament, finds himself entangled in a conspiracy after a tragic accident rocks the competition. His adoptive father Ludo, a former champion, and tournament head George McBride clash over controversial new safety technology, pushing Theo into the gritty underbelly of street racing where he stumbles onto deeper trouble.
The cast reads like a prestige production. Tosin Cole (Supacell, Doctor Who) voices Theo, while British rapper and actor Little Simz plays Cass. Grégory Montel (French actor) portrays Ludo, and Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead, John Wick: Chapter 2) takes the role of George McBride. Jane Perry, the BAFTA-winning voice of the protagonist in 2021's Returnal and Agent 47's handler in the recent Hitman trilogy, rounds out the ensemble.
Brown noted that Little Simz brings significant star power, calling her "basically the biggest name in UK hip hop at the moment" and "probably the biggest female rapper in the world." She has appeared in Netflix's Steve alongside Cillian Murphy and played the lead's love interest in Top Boy, alongside her performances at major music festivals.
Heritage of Excellence
Maverick Games operates in Leamington Spa, the same region that has nurtured British racing game development for decades. Brown, formerly creative director of Forza Horizon 5 at Playground Games, credits the area's legacy to Codemasters, the legendary studio that built the region's reputation for racing games. That foundation spawned multiple studios, including Sumo Digital, all working on racing or racing-adjacent projects.
"In this town, if you say you work in the games industry, it's like 'Yeah, obviously," Brown said, comparing it to saying you're a geography teacher. The concentration of talent in one region remains unusual in the gaming industry, particularly for such a specialized genre.
Clutch launches in Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The studio describes it as a "cinematic open-world action-driving game" that blends blockbuster storytelling with raw, high-octane driving.
Author Emily Chen: "The pedigree on this one is undeniable, and casting Little Simz as Cass signals Maverick isn't just leaning on racing credentials but real acting talent."
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