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. This collaboration marks a significant step for both companies: for Maverick, it is the first time the fledgling studio will see its flagship title released under the banner of a major European publisher, while for Focus it represents a strategic expansion into the open‑world racing genre, an area where the company has previously had limited presence. The road to this partnership began in 2024, when Maverick Games first announced that it had secured a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for an as‑yet‑unnamed racing game. That relationship, however, was short‑lived.
Earlier in the year, Amazon chose to end the deal, explaining that its focus would shift toward projects that better align with the company’s unique technological strengths and the scale of its ecosystem. The decision left Maverick without a publishing home for its ambitious open‑world title, prompting the studio to seek out new collaborators who shared its long‑term vision for the intellectual property.
Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio has been "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 underscored Maverick’s determination to find a partner that not only provided financial backing but also understood the creative aspirations behind Clutch. After evaluating several options, the team settled on Focus Entertainment, a French publisher known for supporting a diverse slate of games across multiple platforms. Focus Entertainment’s leadership echoed this enthusiasm. Vincent Chataignier, deputy chief executive officer of Focus Entertainment Publishing, said, "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." In the publisher’s view, 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." This sentiment reflects Focus’s broader strategy to diversify its catalog beyond its traditional strengths in narrative‑driven and action‑oriented titles. Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 launch across the major current‑generation consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—as well as PC.
The game promises an expansive, open‑world environment where players can explore a richly detailed landscape, engage in high‑speed street races, and customize a wide variety of vehicles. According to Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, the project is the culmination of years of dreaming about an open‑world racing experience that pushes the boundaries of both visual fidelity and gameplay depth.
"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 said. The partnership also highlights the broader corporate structure of Focus Entertainment. The publisher operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a holding company that oversees three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios.
Among these studios are Deck13, known for titles such as "The Surge" series; Streumon, creators of "Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2"; Twelve Tenths; Leikir Studio; Blackmill; Dovetail; and Carpool Studio. This network provides Focus with a robust pipeline of development talent and resources, which can be leveraged to support ambitious projects like Clutch. Maverick Games itself is a relatively new entrant in the industry, having been founded in 2023 by a group of former developers from Playground Games, the studio behind the acclaimed "Forza Horizon" series. Mike Brown, the company’s CEO, previously served as creative director on several entries in the Forza Horizon franchise, giving him extensive experience in crafting large‑scale, open‑world racing experiences.
This background informs the design philosophy of Clutch, which aims to blend the freedom of an open world with the high‑octane thrills of competitive racing. The shift from Amazon to Focus also illustrates a broader trend in the gaming industry where independent studios seek publishing partners that can provide not just funding but also strategic alignment with the studio’s creative goals.
While Amazon’s decision to step back was framed around focusing on projects that leverage its own infrastructure—such as cloud services and integrated commerce—Maverick found a more genre‑specific ally in Focus, whose portfolio includes a variety of action and adventure titles and now, with Clutch, a flagship racing game. Looking ahead, both Maverick and Focus are optimistic about the potential impact of Clutch on the racing genre. The game aims to differentiate itself through its expansive world design, deep vehicle customization options, and a narrative layer that ties together the various racing events across the map. By positioning Clutch as a "major new racing IP," Focus hopes to create a long‑term franchise that can support sequels, expansions, and possibly even cross‑media adaptations.
In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative vision and publishing expertise. With a spring 2027 release on the horizon, Clutch is poised to make a significant splash in the competitive racing market, offering players an unprecedented open‑world experience that blends technical innovation with the excitement of high‑speed competition.