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, combining Focus’s publishing expertise with Maverick’s vision for an expansive, open‑world racing experience.
Earlier in 2024, Maverick had initially secured a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios for the then‑still‑secret project. However, Amazon chose to dissolve the agreement earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better leverage the company’s unique capabilities and scale. This decision left Maverick searching for a new partner that could match its long‑term ambitions for the intellectual property.
Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, 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 underscores Maverick’s commitment to finding a publishing home that not only supports the game’s development but also aligns with its broader creative goals. Focus Entertainment’s announcement highlighted 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 Clutter as a major new racing IP." By adding an open‑world racer to its catalog, Focus aims to diversify its offerings and tap into a market segment that has been dominated by a handful of long‑standing franchises.
Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The timeline gives the development team ample opportunity to refine the game’s mechanics, world design, and visual fidelity, ensuring a polished product that can compete with industry heavyweights.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, explained the rationale behind the partnership: "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." This endorsement signals that Focus sees Maverick’s leadership as a catalyst for innovation within the racing genre. 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 comments reflect a clear vision: to deliver a racing game that goes beyond traditional circuit‑based competition, offering players a living, breathing world to explore, race, and interact with.
The partnership also benefits from Focus Entertainment’s broader corporate structure. Focus is a French publisher operating under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment, which oversees three primary divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among these studios are Deck13, known for narrative‑driven titles; Streumon, a specialist in action‑oriented games; Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio, each bringing distinct expertise to Pullup’s portfolio.
This ecosystem provides Maverick with access to a network of resources, technical support, and marketing channels that can amplify Clutch’s reach. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a group of former Playground Games developers. The studio’s leadership includes Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series.
Brown’s experience on Forza Horizon—renowned for its seamless blend of open‑world exploration and high‑octane racing—directly informs the design philosophy behind Clutch. The team aims to push the envelope further, incorporating more dynamic weather systems, deeper vehicle customization, and a narrative layer that gives context to the races.
In addition to the core gameplay loop, the developers plan to integrate a robust online component, allowing players to host and join community‑driven events, create custom race routes, and compete in seasonal championships. This multiplayer focus is intended to foster a vibrant ecosystem that keeps players engaged long after the initial launch. From a technical standpoint, Clutch will leverage the latest generation of hardware capabilities. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game will support ray‑traced reflections, high‑resolution textures, and fast load times via SSD technology, ensuring that the open world feels seamless and immersive.
For PC gamers, the title will be optimized for a range of configurations, with scalable graphics settings that allow both high‑end rigs and more modest setups to experience the game’s core features. Marketing efforts are expected to begin in earnest in late 2025, with a series of teaser trailers, developer diaries, and beta testing phases designed to build community hype. Focus Entertainment’s publishing experience—particularly its recent successes in bringing niche yet high‑quality titles to market—will be instrumental in shaping these campaigns.
Overall, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of creative ambition and publishing acumen. With a clear release window, a solid development pedigree, and the backing of a publisher eager to expand into open‑world racing, Clutch is positioned to become a noteworthy addition to the genre, offering players a fresh take on the freedom and excitement that define modern racing games.