French publisher 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: Focus expands its catalogue with a new open‑world racing franchise, while Maverick secures a publishing home after an earlier arrangement fell through.
In early 2024 Maverick Games began working with Amazon Game Studios on the same, as‑yet‑unnamed, racing title. However, Amazon announced that it would be ending the publishing agreement sometime earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects that better leverage the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new partner that shared its long‑term vision for the IP. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio has entered “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 Maverick’s commitment to finding a publisher that not only provides financial backing but also aligns with the creative direction and aspirations of the Clutch universe. Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity, stating 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 way to diversify its offerings beyond its existing slate, which includes narrative‑driven games and action‑adventure titles.
By adding an open‑world racing experience, Focus aims to capture a broader audience and demonstrate its willingness to support innovative, genre‑defining projects. The game is slated for a Spring 2027 release across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This multi‑platform launch strategy reflects both Maverick’s desire for maximum reach 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 comments highlight the respect Focus holds for Maverick’s leadership and the belief that the studio’s track record—especially Brown’s work on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series—positions Clutch to become a benchmark in open‑world racing. 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 remarks emphasize the long‑standing vision behind Clutch: an expansive, immersive racing environment that blends high‑octane competition with a living, breathing world for players to explore. Focus Entertainment itself is a French publishing house operating under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment.
Pullup’s structure includes three core divisions: 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 ecosystem provides a robust support network for titles like Clutch, offering everything from marketing expertise to technical assistance and post‑launch services. Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers.
The studio’s pedigree is notable: many of its founding members, including Brown, contributed to the Forza Horizon franchise, which set a high standard for open‑world racing with its blend of realistic car physics, vibrant environments, and seamless online integration. Brown’s previous role as creative director on Forza Horizon gives him a deep understanding of the genre’s expectations and the challenges of delivering a fresh experience that still feels familiar to fans. The transition from Amazon to Focus is expected to bring several advantages.
While Amazon’s focus on leveraging its cloud infrastructure and broader ecosystem may have been a mismatch for a pure‑play racing title, Focus offers a more genre‑centric approach, emphasizing creative partnership and long‑term IP development. This alignment should allow Maverick to retain greater creative control while benefiting from Focus’s publishing infrastructure, including distribution, marketing, and community engagement. Industry observers note that the shift also reflects a broader trend where specialized publishers are stepping in to support niche, high‑ambition projects that larger conglomerates might deem too risky for their core strategies.
By aligning with Focus, Maverick positions Clutch to receive the dedicated attention it needs to refine its open‑world mechanics, design a compelling progression system, and craft a diverse roster of vehicles and tracks that cater to both casual players and hardcore racing enthusiasts. Looking ahead, both companies have signaled that more information will be revealed as development progresses. Anticipated updates may include gameplay trailers, developer diaries, and deeper dives into the world‑building aspects that set Clutch apart from traditional circuit‑based racers.
The partnership aims to build momentum leading up to the 2027 launch, ensuring that the title arrives with a strong community foundation and robust pre‑launch hype. In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative vision and publishing expertise. With a release window set for Spring 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Clutch is poised to become a landmark entry in the open‑world racing genre, backed by a publisher that values innovation and a development team with a proven track record in delivering high‑quality racing experiences.