Maverick Games Teams Up with Focus Entertainment to Release First Racing Game "Clutch"

French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing 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, as it combines Maverick’s fresh creative vision with Focus’s established distribution network and experience in bringing new IPs to a global audience. The origins of Clutch trace back to early 2024, when Maverick Games first announced a partnership with Amazon Game Studios for a racing game that had not yet been publicly disclosed. That relationship was short‑lived; Amazon chose to dissolve the agreement earlier in the year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better exploit the company’s unique technological capabilities and scale.

In a statement, Amazon explained that the decision was driven by a desire to focus on projects that align more closely with its core strengths. Following the termination, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio immediately began “active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP.” He added that Maverick looks forward to revealing further details about the game later in the year, underscoring the company’s confidence that the right publishing partner would help realize the full potential of Clutch.

Focus Entertainment’s publishing division welcomed the opportunity, noting that adding Clutch to its catalogue will “strengthen our portfolio with its first entry into the open‑world racing space.” The French publisher emphasized a shared commitment to delivering a standout experience that could establish Clutch as a flagship racing franchise. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, explained that the company seeks collaborations with creators who are redefining their genres.

He highlighted that Mike Brown and his team are regarded as one of the defining creative voices in racing, and that Clutch perfectly embodies the kind of ambitious, genre‑pushing project Focus aims to champion. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, echoed this sentiment. He explained that Maverick was founded with the explicit goal of building an open‑world racing experience that the team had imagined 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 said. The partnership therefore represents a meeting of minds: Maverick’s design philosophy and Focus’s publishing expertise combine to give Clutch the best possible launch platform.

Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on the latest generation of consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—as well as on PC. The game promises an expansive, open‑world environment that allows players to explore a variety of racing disciplines, from street sprints to off‑road challenges, all rendered with high‑fidelity graphics and dynamic weather systems. While specific gameplay mechanics have not been fully disclosed, the developers have hinted at a deep customization system for both vehicles and driver avatars, as well as a live‑service component that will introduce new content and events post‑launch. Focus Entertainment, a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, operates three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios that include Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.

This diversified structure gives Focus a broad range of resources to support titles across multiple genres, from narrative‑driven adventures to fast‑paced action games. By adding an open‑world racing title to its slate, Focus expands its reach into a segment that has historically been dominated by a handful of major franchises. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a group of former Playground Games developers. The team brings extensive experience from working on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, where Mike Brown served as creative director.

This background informs the design philosophy behind Clutch, which aims to blend the freedom and exploration of open‑world titles with the high‑octane thrills of competitive racing. The studio’s ambition is to create a world that feels both lived‑in and alive, offering players a sense of discovery alongside the adrenaline rush of high‑speed competition. The transition from Amazon to Focus as the publishing partner underscores a broader trend in the industry where developers seek publishers that not only provide financial backing but also share a clear creative vision.

For Maverick, aligning with Focus means gaining a partner that values genre innovation and is willing to invest in long‑term support for the title. For Focus, Clutch represents an opportunity to diversify its catalog and tap into the lucrative racing market, which continues to grow thanks to advances in hardware and the popularity of streaming and esports. As the spring 2027 launch window approaches, both companies have indicated that more information—including gameplay footage, beta testing opportunities, and deeper insights into the game’s world—will be released throughout the remainder of 2026. Fans of racing games and open‑world experiences alike are encouraged to stay tuned for updates, as Clutch promises to deliver a fresh take on a beloved genre, backed by a partnership that combines creative passion with publishing expertise.