New combat racer Cyber Clutch looks like a spiritual successor to Blur

Since the demise of franchises like Blur, Split/Second and Twisted Metal, combat racers have been practically extinct. However, there’s a new combat racer that probably flew under your radar.

Developed by Gunpowder Games and Focuspoint Studios, Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights recently exited early access on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, its neon-soaked visuals and vehicular combat look like a cross between Blur and Cyberpunk 2077.

Set in the gritty city of Neon Nihon Bay, Cyber Clutch sees up to eight players compete in ranked multiplayer battles, with the option to host private matches with friends. Although multiplayer is the primary focus, Cyber Clutch also features a single-player career with championship races, along with a quick race option.

With three classes, the range of vehicles boasts different advantages. Lighter vehicles are faster but more vulnerable, while heavier vehicles offer better protection but are less nimble. Vehicles can be armed with an arsenal of weapons to destroy opponents, while extra weapons can be added in pickups. You’ll also gain speed boosts by pulling off extended drifts.    

There’s crossplay multiplayer between PC and Xbox Series X|S too, with support to follow on PlayStation 5, which will hopefully boost player counts.

Oddly, Cyber Clutch is an official Hot Import Nights game – despite having no licensed cars. This isn’t the first time a racing game has partnered with the custom car show, either, with 2007’s Juiced 2 also featuring prominent Hot Import Nights branding.

From the trailer, Cyber Clutch looks fast-paced and has a great sense of speed, but the visuals and vehicle handling look rough. This is clearly a budget racer, but considering there’s a dearth of combat arcade racers like now, Cyber Clutch could offer some cheap thrills for fans of the genre clamouring for a new Blur game.

Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is out now, priced at £16.75/$19.99 on Steam and Xbox and £15.99/$19.99 on PlayStation.  

A deluxe ‘Overdrive Edition’ is also available, featuring two extra vehicles, 24 customisation parts and seven unique rims.