French publisher Focus Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing project, titled Clutch, to market. This collaboration marks a significant shift for Maverick, which originally entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios earlier in 2024 for the same, still‑unrevealed title. Amazon chose to end that partnership in the first half of the year, citing a strategic decision to concentrate on initiatives that make the most of Amazon’s distinctive capabilities and scale.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Harinder Sangha, the co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, explained 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 aligns with its vision for Clutch and its broader aspirations within the open‑world racing genre. Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity to add Clutch to its catalogue, noting that the game 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 the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven experiences for which it is best known, and to stake a claim in a segment of the market 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 the latest generation of consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—as well as on PC.
The launch window gives the development team ample time to refine the open‑world mechanics, polish the visual fidelity, and incorporate community feedback from any early access or beta phases that may be planned. 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 publisher’s strategy of aligning with studios that bring fresh perspectives to established genres, and they signal confidence in Maverick’s ability to deliver a game that could reshape expectations for open‑world racing.
Mike Brown, the founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, echoed this enthusiasm: "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 reflect a long‑standing passion for racing titles, a passion that dates back to his tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. His experience on that franchise informs the design philosophy behind Clutch, which aims to blend expansive, seamless environments with deep vehicle customization and dynamic weather systems. 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, known for narrative‑driven action games; Streumon, a studio with a focus on tactical shooters; Twelve Tenths, which specializes in indie‑style experiences; Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio, each bringing their own niche expertise to Pullup’s portfolio. This ecosystem provides Maverick with a robust network of potential collaborators, technology partners, and marketing resources that can be leveraged throughout Clutch’s development and launch phases.
The origins of Maverick Games trace back to 2023, when a group of former Playground Games developers, including Brown, decided to form an independent studio with the explicit goal of creating a next‑generation open‑world racing experience. Playground Games had previously earned a reputation for delivering polished, accessible racing titles, most notably the Forza Horizon series. By branching out on their own, the founders sought greater creative freedom to explore ideas that might not fit within the constraints of larger, established franchises.
In addition to the core development team, Maverick has assembled a roster of external partners to handle specialized aspects of the game. These include audio design firms tasked with crafting immersive soundscapes that react to changing weather and terrain, as well as AI consultants who are developing sophisticated traffic and opponent behavior systems.
The goal is to create a living world where players feel genuinely part of a bustling, dynamic environment rather than merely racing on a static track. From a technical standpoint, Clutch will leverage the latest rendering technologies available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, such as ray‑traced reflections, variable‑rate shading, and hardware‑accelerated AI upscaling. On PC, the game will support a wide range of graphics settings, allowing enthusiasts to push frame rates beyond 120 fps on high‑end rigs while still delivering a visually stunning experience on more modest hardware.
Marketing plans for Clutch include a multi‑phase campaign that begins with a teaser trailer showcasing the game's expansive open world, followed by a series of developer diaries that delve into specific features such as vehicle customization, dynamic weather, and the in‑game economy. Focus Entertainment intends to partner with major gaming events—such as E3, Gamescom, and the Tokyo Game Show—to provide hands‑on demos and live streams that generate buzz among both racing fans and the broader gaming community.
Community engagement will also play a pivotal role. Maverick intends to launch a closed beta later in 2025, inviting a select group of players to test early builds and provide feedback on gameplay balance, world design, and performance. This iterative approach aims to fine‑tune the experience before the final release, ensuring that the game meets the high expectations set by its ambitious premise.
In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic convergence of creative vision and publishing expertise. With a release targeted for spring 2027 on next‑gen consoles and PC, Clutch aspires to redefine what an open‑world racing game can be—offering players a richly detailed environment, deep customization options, and a sense of freedom that extends far beyond traditional circuit‑based racing.
The combined experience of Maverick’s seasoned development team and Focus’s robust publishing infrastructure positions Clutch to become a noteworthy entry in the racing genre and potentially a flagship IP for both companies moving forward.