French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing title, Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies: it is the first time Focus will add an open‑world racing experience to its catalogue, and it gives Maverick a new home for a project that has already attracted considerable attention. In early 2024 Maverick Games originally struck a deal with Amazon Game Studios to develop the as‑yet‑unnamed racing game.
However, Amazon chose to end that agreement earlier this year, stating that it needed to concentrate on initiatives that better align with the company’s unique capabilities and scale. The decision left Maverick searching for a partner that could share its long‑term vision for the intellectual property.
Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio is now in "active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year." This sentiment underscores Maverick’s commitment to finding a publishing ally that not only provides financial backing but also believes in the creative direction of the game. Focus Entertainment’s publishing arm welcomed the opportunity, noting that bringing Clutch to its portfolio 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 chance to diversify its offerings, which have traditionally focused on narrative‑driven experiences and action‑adventure titles.
Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game promises an expansive, open‑world environment where players can explore a richly detailed landscape, customize a wide range of vehicles, and engage in high‑octane races that blend realistic physics with arcade‑style thrills. By targeting next‑generation consoles and PC, Maverick aims to leverage the latest hardware capabilities to deliver stunning visuals, seamless world streaming, and immersive sound design. 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 founder and CEO Mike Brown, whose background includes a stint as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Mike Brown added his own perspective, stating, "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 remarks reflect a clear vision: to craft a racing game that transcends traditional circuit‑based competition by offering a living, breathing world where races can unfold in diverse settings—from coastal highways to mountainous passes—each populated with dynamic weather, day‑night cycles, and a variety of AI‑driven traffic. The partnership also benefits Focus Entertainment by expanding its reach into a genre that has historically been dominated by a few large studios. As a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, Focus is part of a larger ecosystem that includes three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of developer studios such as Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This network provides Maverick with access to a wealth of technical expertise, marketing resources, and distribution channels across multiple regions. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by former developers from Playground Games, the studio behind the popular Forza Horizon franchise. The founding team, led by Brown, sought to create a company that could pursue more experimental and ambitious projects than those typically found within larger, corporate‑owned studios.
Their first venture, Clutch, is intended to be a showcase of that ambition: an open‑world racing title that blends the freedom of exploration with the competitive intensity of high‑speed racing. The development roadmap for Clutch includes several key milestones. Early 2025 will see the completion of a vertical slice that demonstrates core gameplay mechanics, vehicle handling, and world traversal. By mid‑2025, the team plans to open a closed beta for select players to gather feedback on performance, balance, and the overall player experience.
Throughout 2026, Maverick will focus on polishing the game, adding content such as additional vehicle classes, multiplayer modes, and post‑launch live‑service features that will keep the world fresh and engaging. From a market perspective, the racing genre remains one of the most lucrative segments in the video‑game industry, with titles like Gran Turismo, Forza Horizon, and Need for Speed consistently delivering strong sales and vibrant online communities. However, few games have successfully combined an open‑world structure with deep customization and a robust multiplayer ecosystem.
Clutch aims to fill that gap, offering both solo players and competitive racers a platform that encourages exploration, community‑driven events, and ongoing content updates. In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative vision and publishing capability.
With Focus’s resources and Maverick’s expertise in racing game design, Clutch is poised to become a landmark title that could redefine what players expect from open‑world racing experiences. The game’s anticipated spring 2027 launch promises to deliver a fresh, immersive world that invites gamers to race, explore, and compete in ways that have not been seen before.