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. This collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, combining Focus’s extensive publishing experience with Maverick’s fresh creative vision in the open‑world racing genre. The origins of Clutch trace back to early 2024, when Maverick Games first announced a partnership with Amazon Game Studios for a game that had not yet been publicly disclosed.
That relationship, however, was short‑lived. Amazon chose to dissolve the agreement earlier in the year, stating that its strategic priorities required a focus on initiatives that could fully exploit the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The termination left Maverick searching for a new publishing ally capable of supporting the ambitious scope of their project. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio has been "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 partner whose goals align with the studio’s own aspirations for Clutch, a game that aims to redefine the open‑world racing experience.
Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity, emphasizing 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 a new genre for its catalogue, expanding beyond its traditional focus on narrative‑driven and action‑oriented titles. The game is slated for a spring 2027 release across the major next‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
This multi‑platform launch strategy reflects the developers’ intention to reach a broad audience of racing enthusiasts, from console gamers to PC aficionados. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, highlighted the publisher’s philosophy of collaborating with creators who are reshaping their fields. "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." This endorsement signals confidence in Maverick’s leadership and the innovative direction of the project.
Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed this enthusiasm, noting that the studio was founded with the explicit purpose of delivering the open‑world racing experience he and his team had envisioned for years. "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 remarked. His statement reflects both a personal passion for the genre and a strategic alignment with Focus’s publishing strengths. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media group that oversees three primary divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among these studios are Deck13, known for the acclaimed "The Surge" series; Streumon, which focuses on action‑oriented titles; Twelve Tenths, a studio with a reputation for narrative depth; Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This diversified portfolio provides Focus with a robust infrastructure for supporting a wide range of game types, including the ambitious open‑world racing venture represented by Clutch. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers, bringing with them a wealth of experience from the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon franchise. Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on the Forza Horizon series, leverages that background to shape Clutch’s design philosophy. The goal is to blend the exhilarating freedom of open‑world exploration with the high‑octane thrills of competitive racing, delivering a seamless experience where players can both race against friends and explore a richly detailed world at their own pace.
The shift from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner also reflects broader industry trends, where independent studios increasingly seek publishers that can offer tailored support, flexible marketing strategies, and a genuine belief in the creative vision of the developers. Focus’s commitment to nurturing new IPs aligns well with Maverick’s desire to carve out a distinctive niche in the crowded racing market.
Looking ahead, both companies anticipate that Clutch will not only serve as a flagship title for Maverick but also act as a catalyst for future collaborations and expansions within the racing genre. With a planned release in 2027, the development team has ample time to refine gameplay mechanics, expand the game world, and integrate community feedback through early testing phases. The partnership promises a blend of creative ambition and publishing expertise that could set a new benchmark for open‑world racing games.
In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic convergence of innovative development and seasoned publishing. By combining Maverick’s deep roots in racing game design with Focus’s resources and market reach, Clutch is positioned to become a landmark title that pushes the boundaries of what an open‑world racing experience can be, offering players a fresh, immersive, and exhilarating journey when it finally arrives in spring 2027.