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, as it combines Maverick’s fresh creative vision with Focus’s established distribution network and experience in publishing diverse video game genres. The origins of Clutch trace back to early 2024, when Maverick Games initially secured a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios. At that time the game was still under wraps, and the partnership was expected to leverage Amazon’s extensive resources and global reach.
However, in a strategic shift, Amazon announced earlier this year that it would be ending the agreement. The decision was framed as a move to concentrate on initiatives that more directly exploit Amazon’s unique technological strengths and scale, leaving Maverick to seek a new publishing home for its ambitious title. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio has remained proactive in its search for a partner whose long‑term vision aligns with the aspirations they hold for the Clutch intellectual property. “We are in active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year,” Sangha said, underscoring the studio’s confidence that the right collaboration will help the game reach its full potential.
Focus Entertainment’s publishing division welcomed the opportunity, emphasizing that adding Clutch to its slate will broaden its portfolio by venturing into the open‑world racing segment for the first time. A spokesperson for Focus highlighted the company’s desire to back projects that aim to deliver standout experiences and to nurture new, high‑profile racing franchises.
“Publishing Clutch will strengthen our 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 statement read. The game is slated for a spring 2027 release across the current generation of consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—as well as on PC. This timeline gives the development team ample room to refine the open‑world mechanics, polish the visual fidelity, and integrate the extensive vehicle customization options that modern racing enthusiasts expect.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the company’s philosophy of partnering with creators who are pushing the boundaries of their respective genres. “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.” Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, echoed this sentiment, noting that the studio was founded with a singular purpose: to craft the open‑world racing experience he and his team had long imagined.
“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.
Focus Entertainment itself is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a French media conglomerate that oversees several distinct divisions. These include Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew (a label dedicated to indie and mid‑size titles), and a collection of development studios such as Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This diversified structure enables Focus to support a wide range of projects, from narrative‑driven adventures to fast‑paced action games, and now, with Clutch, to expand into the competitive arena of open‑world racing. Maverick Games 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 multiple Forza Horizon installments, brings a wealth of experience in designing expansive, visually striking racing environments. His background informs Clutch’s ambition to blend the thrill of high‑speed competition with the freedom of a living, breathing open world where players can explore diverse landscapes, discover hidden routes, and engage in dynamic weather systems.
The partnership with Focus is expected to provide Maverick with the necessary resources for marketing, distribution, and additional development support, ensuring that Clutch can meet the high expectations set by both the studio’s pedigree and the racing community at large. As the release window approaches, further details about gameplay mechanics, vehicle roster, and world design are anticipated to be revealed through trailers, developer diaries, and press events. In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of fresh creative talent and seasoned publishing expertise.
With a projected spring 2027 launch, Clutch aims to carve out a distinctive niche in the open‑world racing genre, offering players an immersive, expansive driving experience that builds upon the legacy of previous racing titles while forging its own identity. The partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to delivering innovative, high‑quality gaming experiences that resonate with a global audience.