French publisher 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, combining Focus’s publishing expertise with Maverick’s vision for an open‑world racing experience. In early 2024, Maverick Games entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the same yet‑to‑be‑named game. However, Amazon chose to end that partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects that better align with the company’s distinctive capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new publishing home, and Focus Entertainment stepped in to fill that role. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, told 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 that not only provides financial backing but also resonates with the creative direction of the Clutch universe. Focus Entertainment’s leadership echoed that sentiment.
The publisher said that bringing Clutch into its catalogue 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." By adding an open‑world title to its roster, Focus aims to diversify its offerings beyond the more traditional, linear racing games it has handled in the past. The game is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on the latest generation of consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—as well as on PC. This multi‑platform launch strategy is intended to maximize audience reach and ensure that the expansive, sandbox‑style world of Clutch can be experienced by as many players as possible. 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." Chataignier’s remarks highlight the publisher’s belief that Maverick’s team brings fresh ideas that could reshape expectations for racing games. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, added his perspective: "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 the studio’s long‑standing aspiration to create a racing environment where players can explore a living, breathing world rather than being confined to a series of isolated tracks.
Focus Entertainment itself is a French publishing house that operates under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment. Pullup’s structure includes three primary 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 diversified ecosystem provides Focus with a broad base of resources, ranging from marketing and distribution to technical support and co‑development, all of which are expected to benefit the Clutch project. Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a group of former developers from Playground Games, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series.
Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on the Forza Horizon franchise, brings a wealth of experience in crafting expansive, visually striking racing environments. His background suggests that Clutch will likely inherit the high production values and attention to detail that defined his earlier work, while also pushing the genre into new territory through open‑world mechanics. The transition from Amazon Game Studios to Focus Entertainment may also signal a shift in how the game will be positioned in the market.
While Amazon’s approach often emphasizes integration with its broader ecosystem, Focus’s focus on genre‑specific expertise could allow Maverick more creative freedom to pursue ambitious design goals. This partnership is expected to provide the necessary funding, marketing muscle, and distribution channels to bring Clutch to a global audience. Industry observers are watching the development closely, noting that the open‑world racing sub‑genre remains relatively underexplored compared to traditional circuit‑based titles. If successful, Clutch could set a new benchmark for player agency, environmental storytelling, and the integration of dynamic weather and traffic systems within a racing framework.
In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of visionary design and seasoned publishing capability. With a spring 2027 launch on the horizon, the gaming community can anticipate a fresh, immersive racing experience that promises to expand the boundaries of what a racing game can be. The collaboration not only revitalizes Maverick’s original publishing plan after Amazon’s withdrawal but also positions Focus Entertainment as a key player in the emerging open‑world racing market.