French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing 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 presence in the competitive open‑world racing genre.
Earlier in 2024, Maverick Games had initially aligned with Amazon Game Studios to develop the still‑secret title. However, Amazon chose to dissolve the agreement earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects that more directly exploit the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverik searching for a new publishing home for its ambitious open‑world racing vision. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio is now engaged in "active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year." This statement underscores Maverick’s commitment to finding a partner whose goals align with the studio’s own aspirations for Clutch, a game that promises to blend expansive, free‑roaming environments with high‑octane racing action. Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity, stating that publishing Clutch will "strengthen [its] 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." The French publisher sees the title as a gateway to broaden its catalog beyond traditional action‑adventure and narrative‑driven experiences, venturing into a segment that has seen renewed interest thanks to titles like Forza Horizon and Need for Speed. The game is slated for a Spring 2027 release across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
By targeting these systems, Maverick and Focus aim to reach both console enthusiasts and the growing PC racing community, ensuring that Clutch benefits from the technical capabilities of next‑gen hardware such as ray‑traced graphics, high frame‑rate performance, and expansive open‑world streaming. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the partnership, saying, "At Focus, we look to partner with creators who are redefining their genre. 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." This endorsement highlights the respect that industry veterans have for Maverick’s leadership, particularly CEO Mike Brown, whose background includes a tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series.
Mike Brown added his perspective, noting, "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 comment reflects a long‑standing vision to deliver a racing game that goes beyond circuit‑based competition, offering players a living, breathing world to explore, customize, and dominate. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger conglomerate that manages three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among these studios are Deck13, known for the Vermintide series; Streumon, creators of the sci‑fi shooter *The Riftbreaker*; Twelve Tenths, an emerging indie outfit; Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This diversified portfolio equips Focus with a breadth of technical expertise and creative talent that can support a complex project like Clutch, which will likely require sophisticated world‑building tools, advanced physics simulations, and robust online multiplayer infrastructure. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers, a studio best known for the Forza Horizon franchise. The founders, including Brown, sought to leverage their experience in crafting expansive, visually striking racing environments while introducing fresh gameplay mechanics and narrative elements.
Their prior work on Forza Horizon gave them deep insight into how to balance arcade‑style fun with realistic driving dynamics, a balance they intend to push further with Clutch. The partnership between Maverick and Focus also signals a broader trend in the industry where mid‑size studios are aligning with publishers that can provide both financial backing and distribution muscle without imposing restrictive creative constraints.
By joining forces, Maverick retains artistic control while benefiting from Focus’s established relationships with platform holders, marketing channels, and quality‑assurance pipelines. Looking ahead, both companies anticipate a multi‑phase marketing campaign that will include teaser trailers, developer diaries, and community engagement events. Early access or beta testing phases may be considered to gather player feedback and fine‑tune the open‑world systems, ensuring that the final product meets the high expectations set by the studio’s pedigree.
In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment marks the launch of an ambitious new racing IP, Clutch, set for a 2027 debut on major consoles and PC. With a seasoned leadership team, a clear vision for an expansive, immersive racing experience, and the support of a publisher eager to expand into the open‑world racing arena, Clutch is poised to become a noteworthy contender in the genre and potentially reshape how players experience open‑world automotive gameplay.