French publisher 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 Focus’s publishing expertise with Maverick’s fresh creative vision for an open‑world racing experience. Initially, Maverick had struck a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios back in 2024 for the same, as‑yet‑unnamed, title. However, Amazon chose to end that arrangement earlier in the year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better align with the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
In a statement, Amazon explained that it was refocusing its resources on projects that could fully leverage its extensive infrastructure and ecosystem. Following the termination, Maverick co‑founder and Chief Operating Officer Harinder Sangha spoke to GamesIndustry.biz, indicating that the studio was already engaged in “active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP.” He added that Maverick looks forward to revealing more details later in the year as the partnership solidifies and development progresses. Focus Entertainment, a well‑established French publishing house, expressed enthusiasm about adding Clutch to its catalogue.
The company highlighted that publishing the game would broaden its portfolio by venturing into the open‑world racing segment for the first time. Focus emphasized a shared ambition with Maverick to deliver a standout, high‑quality experience that could establish Clutch as a major new intellectual property within the racing genre. Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. The developers aim to create a richly detailed, expansive world where players can explore diverse environments, customize vehicles, and engage in dynamic, high‑speed competition.
Vincent Chataignier, Deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, commented 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.” This endorsement underscores Focus’s confidence in Maverick’s ability to push the boundaries of what a racing game can offer. Maverick’s founder and CEO, 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 statement reflects the studio’s commitment to delivering an immersive, player‑centric experience that blends the thrill of high‑speed racing with the freedom of an open world.
Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media group that oversees three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among these studios are Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio, each contributing a range of titles across various genres. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers. The studio’s leadership brings extensive experience from the Forza Horizon series, where Mike Brown previously served as creative director.
This background in crafting critically acclaimed open‑world racing experiences informs the design philosophy behind Clutch, promising a blend of polished mechanics, vibrant visual design, and expansive world‑building. The transition from Amazon to Focus as the publishing partner is expected to provide Maverick with a more focused and genre‑aligned support structure.
While Amazon’s vast resources are undeniable, Focus’s niche expertise in publishing and its dedicated attention to racing and action titles may offer a more tailored approach to nurturing the game’s development. This shift also signals a strategic alignment for both parties: Focus gains a flagship title to anchor its entry into open‑world racing, while Maverick secures a publisher that shares its creative vision and can champion the game through marketing, distribution, and post‑launch support.
Industry observers anticipate that Clutch will aim to differentiate itself from existing racing franchises by emphasizing a seamless integration of open‑world exploration and competitive racing events. Features under discussion include dynamic weather systems, a living ecosystem of AI‑driven traffic, and a robust vehicle customization pipeline that allows players to modify performance, aesthetics, and handling characteristics in real time.
The developers also plan to incorporate a narrative layer, offering players story-driven missions and character interactions that enrich the racing experience. In addition to core gameplay, the team is exploring multiplayer components that could enable large‑scale races, cooperative challenges, and community‑driven events.
By leveraging the capabilities of next‑generation consoles and high‑end PCs, Clutch aims to deliver high‑fidelity graphics, realistic physics, and low‑latency online performance. Overall, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment positions Clutch as a highly anticipated entry in the racing genre, promising to blend the excitement of high‑speed competition with the freedom of an expansive, immersive world.
With a projected launch in spring 2027 across major platforms, the game is set to capture the attention of both hardcore racing enthusiasts and broader gaming audiences seeking fresh, open‑world experiences.