French publishing house Focus Entertainment has entered into a 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 it combines Focus’s extensive publishing expertise with Maverick’s fresh creative vision for an open‑world racing experience. Initially, Maverick had secured a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios back in 2024 for the same, as‑yet‑unnamed, title.
However, Amazon chose to dissolve the partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects that more directly leverage the company’s unique technological strengths and massive scale. In a statement, Amazon explained that its focus would now be on initiatives that align closely with its core competencies, leaving Maverick to seek a new publishing home for its ambitious game.
Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, spoke to GamesIndustry.biz about the studio’s next steps. He emphasized that Maverick is actively engaging in discussions with potential partners who share a long‑term commitment to the intellectual property. Sangha hinted that additional details about these talks will be disclosed later in the year, underscoring the studio’s confidence that the right publishing partner will help amplify the game’s reach and impact.
Focus Entertainment’s leadership echoed this optimism. The publisher announced that adding Clutch to its catalogue will diversify its portfolio by venturing into the open‑world racing genre for the first time. Focus highlighted a shared ambition with Maverick to craft a standout, high‑quality experience that could establish Clutch as a flagship racing franchise.
By joining forces, both companies aim to deliver a product that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of racing enthusiasts worldwide. Set for a spring 2027 release, Clutch will be available on the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This multi‑platform launch strategy is designed to maximize the game’s audience, allowing players across different ecosystems to explore the expansive, open‑world racing environment that Maverick has envisioned. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the partnership’s strategic fit.
He noted that Focus actively seeks collaborations with creators who are redefining their respective genres. According to Chataignier, Mike Brown and his development team are already recognized as influential voices within the racing community. He believes that Clutch epitomizes the kind of innovative, ambitious project that Focus aims to champion and promote. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, added his perspective on the alliance.
He explained that the studio was founded with a singular mission: to build the kind of open‑world racing experience he and his team have long imagined. Brown praised Focus for aligning with Maverick’s high creative standards and shared vision for Clutch, expressing excitement about bringing the game to a global audience. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger conglomerate that manages several distinct divisions. These include 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 structure gives Focus a broad base of resources and expertise, ranging from publishing logistics to in‑house development capabilities, which can be leveraged to support Clutch’s launch and ongoing support. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a group of former developers from Playground Games, the studio behind the acclaimed Forza Horizon series.
Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on several Forza Horizon installments, brings a wealth of experience in crafting expansive, visually stunning racing worlds. His background informs the design philosophy behind Clutch, which aims to blend the freedom of open‑world exploration with the high‑octane thrills of competitive racing. The transition from Amazon to Focus as the publishing partner reflects broader industry trends, where developers seek publishers that can offer not just financial backing but also strategic alignment, marketing muscle, and genre‑specific expertise. For Maverick, aligning with a publisher that understands the nuances of the racing genre and has a proven track record of supporting ambitious titles is crucial for realizing the full potential of Clutch.
In addition to the core gameplay experience, Clutch is expected to feature a robust suite of customization options, live‑service elements, and a dynamic weather system that will influence racing conditions in real time. The game’s open‑world design will allow players to freely traverse a richly detailed environment, discover hidden routes, and engage in spontaneous events that keep the experience fresh and engaging over extended play sessions.
As the development timeline progresses toward its 2027 launch window, both Maverick and Focus are planning a series of promotional activities, including developer diaries, beta testing phases, and community engagement events. These initiatives aim to build anticipation, gather player feedback, and refine the final product based on real‑world testing. Overall, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment signals a promising future for Clutch.
By combining Maverick’s creative pedigree and vision with Focus’s publishing infrastructure and market insight, the two companies are poised to deliver a racing title that could redefine the open‑world genre and establish a new benchmark for future games in the space.