French publishing house Focus Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing project, titled Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies as they aim to carve out a distinctive space in the competitive open‑world racing genre. The journey of Clutch began in 2024 when Maverick Games entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios.
At that time the game was still under wraps, and the two parties were working together to shape its development. However, Amazon chose to end the partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better leverage the company’s unique capabilities and scale. In a statement, Amazon explained that the decision was driven by a desire to focus on projects that align more closely with its core strengths. Following the split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio had already begun “active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year.” This remark underscored Maverick’s intent to find a publishing ally that not only understood the vision behind Clutch but also possessed the resources to help it reach a global audience.
Focus Entertainment stepped into that role, positioning the partnership as a mutually beneficial alliance. The publisher said that adding Clutch to its slate would “strengthen our portfolio with its first entry into the open‑world racing space, driven by a shared ambition to deliver a standout experience and establish Clutch as a major new racing IP.” By aligning with Maverick, Focus hopes to broaden its catalogue beyond its traditional focus on narrative‑driven and action titles, venturing into a genre that has seen renewed interest thanks to the success of open‑world road‑trip games. Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The release window gives both the developer and publisher ample time to refine the game’s expansive world, polish its vehicle physics, and integrate the myriad features that will set it apart from existing titles.
According to the developers, the game will feature a seamless, persistent world where players can freely explore diverse environments, compete in a variety of race formats, and customize their rides in unprecedented depth. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the company’s selection criteria for partners. “At Focus, we look to partner with creators who are redefining their genre,” he said.
“Mike Brown and his team are regarded as one of the defining creative voices in the racing genre, and Clutch embodies exactly the creative ambition Focus Entertainment wants to champion.” Chataignier’s comments highlight the publisher’s confidence in Maverick’s leadership, particularly in founder and CEO Mike Brown, whose reputation stems from his previous work as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Mike Brown echoed this sentiment, explaining the philosophical underpinnings of Maverick Games. “We founded Maverick Games to build the open‑world racing experience we’d dreamed about for years. Focus shares our creative bar and our ambition for Clutch, and we can’t wait for players everywhere to discover this world.” Brown’s vision is rooted in a desire to blend the thrill of high‑speed competition with the freedom of exploration, allowing players to chart their own routes across sprawling landscapes, discover hidden shortcuts, and engage with dynamic weather and day‑night cycles that affect driving conditions.
The partnership also benefits from Focus Entertainment’s broader corporate structure. As a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, Focus operates alongside three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios such as Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This ecosystem provides Maverick with access to a network of seasoned developers, technical expertise, and marketing channels that can amplify Clutch’s launch across multiple regions. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a group of former Playground Games veterans.
The team’s pedigree includes work on the Forza Horizon franchise, which is widely praised for its seamless integration of open‑world design and high‑octane racing. Leveraging that experience, Maverick aims to push the boundaries further by introducing new gameplay mechanics such as real‑time vehicle tuning, a deeper narrative layer that ties races to a living world, and multiplayer features that encourage both competitive and cooperative play. In addition to the core single‑player campaign, the developers have hinted at a robust post‑launch roadmap. Planned updates may include seasonal events, additional vehicle packs, and expansions that introduce new regions and story arcs.
By committing to long‑term support, Maverick and Focus hope to foster an engaged community that will keep the game vibrant long after its initial release. The decision to target the next‑gen consoles and PC reflects a strategic focus on delivering cutting‑edge graphics, high frame rates, and immersive audio—elements that are essential for a racing title that aspires to feel both realistic and exhilarating. Early technical showcases suggest that Clutch will leverage advanced lighting, ray‑traced reflections, and detailed car models to create a visually stunning experience that rivals the best in the genre.
Overall, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of creative vision and publishing muscle. With a clear roadmap, a seasoned development team, and a publisher eager to expand into open‑world racing, Clutch is positioned to become a noteworthy entrant in the market when it arrives in spring 2027.
Fans of the genre can look forward to a game that promises not only high‑speed thrills but also the freedom to explore, customize, and immerse themselves in a richly crafted automotive universe.