French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing title, Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, as Focus expands its catalogue into the open‑world racing genre while Maverick secures a seasoned publishing partner after an earlier setback. In early 2024 Maverick Games had initially struck a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the project, which at the time was still under wraps. However, Amazon chose to end that arrangement earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better exploit the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new ally that could share its long‑term vision for the intellectual property. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, told 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 statement underscored the studio’s commitment to finding a publishing partner whose goals align with the ambitious scope of Clutch, a game that aims to redefine open‑world racing experiences.
Focus Entertainment’s publishing arm welcomed the opportunity, stating that bringing Clutch to market 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 beyond its existing slate of narrative‑driven and action‑oriented games. The game is slated for release in the spring of 2027 on the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
This multi‑platform launch strategy reflects both Maverick’s desire to reach a broad audience and Focus’s confidence in the title’s universal appeal. 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 respect Focus has for Maverick’s leadership and their belief that the studio’s creative direction aligns with the publisher’s own goals. Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, 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 underscores the passion that drove the studio’s formation in 2023, following his tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, and signals confidence that the new partnership will provide the resources needed to realize the project’s full potential. Focus Entertainment itself is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a French media group that operates three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among the studios under Pullup’s umbrella are Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio, each contributing to a diverse portfolio that spans a range of genres and platforms.
This network of studios and publishing expertise positions Focus to support Maverick’s ambitious development timeline and marketing push. The origins of Maverick Games trace back to a group of former Playground Games developers who banded together in 2023 with a shared vision: to create an open‑world racing environment that would allow players to explore expansive landscapes, engage in dynamic weather systems, and experience a level of vehicle customization rarely seen in the genre. Drawing on their experience with the Forza Horizon franchise, the team set out to push the boundaries of what a racing game could offer, emphasizing freedom, immersion, and a living world that reacts to player actions.
Clutch is expected to feature a richly detailed world that blends realistic driving physics with a vibrant, stylized aesthetic. Early concept art suggests a variety of environments—from sprawling coastal highways to rugged mountain passes—each designed to test drivers’ skills in different ways.
The game will also incorporate a progression system that rewards players for mastering diverse driving challenges, encouraging both competitive racing and exploratory play. Beyond the core racing mechanics, Maverick intends to integrate social and multiplayer components that allow friends to race together in real time, form clubs, and compete in seasonal events. This focus on community aligns with current industry trends that prioritize live services and ongoing content updates, ensuring that Clutch remains fresh and engaging long after its initial launch.
With Focus Entertainment’s publishing muscle behind it, Maverick will have access to a robust marketing infrastructure, distribution channels, and strategic guidance on launch timing. The partnership is also expected to facilitate collaborations with other Pullup-owned studios, potentially bringing in additional expertise for areas such as AI behavior, world design, and audio production.
In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic convergence of creative ambition and publishing capability. While the project’s early development faced a hiccup when Amazon withdrew its support, the new partnership promises to propel Clutch toward a successful release in 2027, offering gamers an innovative open‑world racing experience that could set a new benchmark for the genre.