French publishing house 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, combining Focus’s distribution expertise with Maverick’s vision for an expansive, open‑world racing experience.
Originally, Maverick Games had struck a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios back in 2024 for the same, as‑yet‑unannounced title. However, Amazon chose to dissolve the partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects 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 initiatives that align more closely with its core strengths, such as cloud infrastructure, AI integration, and large‑scale multiplayer ecosystems. Following the split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer, Harinder Sangha, told 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 indicates that Maverick has been actively seeking a new publishing home that not only understands the creative direction of Clutch but also has the resources to support a multi‑platform launch.
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 catalog, which historically has leaned toward narrative‑driven adventure games, action‑RPGs, and simulation titles. By adding an open‑world racing game, Focus aims to capture a broader audience and demonstrate its commitment to expanding into new genres. 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 developers have promised a richly detailed world where players can freely explore a variety of environments, from bustling city streets to winding mountain passes, all while competing in high‑octane races that blend realism with arcade‑style fun. "At Focus, we look to partner with creators who are redefining their genre," said Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing.
"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 remarks underscore the publisher’s belief that Maverick’s leadership, particularly Mike Brown’s reputation from his time on the Forza Horizon series, will bring a fresh perspective to the racing landscape. Maverick founder and chief executive officer Mike Brown added his own 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 comment highlights the studio’s long‑standing goal of delivering a seamless blend of open‑world exploration and competitive racing, a concept that has been a recurring theme in his previous work. Focus Entertainment is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a French media conglomerate that operates three main divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among the studios under Pullup’s umbrella are Deck13, known for the acclaimed *The Surge* series; Streumon, creators of the tactical shooter *Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven*; Twelve Tenths, developers of the narrative adventure *The Last of Us Part II*‑style experiences; Leikir Studio; Blackmill; Dovetail; and Carpool Studio. This network provides Focus with a robust pipeline of talent and technology that can be leveraged to support ambitious projects like Clutch.
Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a group of veterans from Playground Games, the studio behind the popular *Forza Horizon* franchise. Mike Brown, who served as creative director on several *Forza Horizon* installments, brings a wealth of experience in crafting vibrant, open‑world environments that blend realistic vehicle physics with a playful, accessible style. The team’s background suggests that Clutch will likely feature a mix of meticulously modeled cars, dynamic weather systems, and a living world that reacts to player actions.
The decision to shift from Amazon to Focus may also have strategic implications for the game's development timeline and marketing approach. While Amazon’s resources are extensive, its focus on cloud‑centric services and large‑scale multiplayer infrastructure might have steered Clutch toward a different design philosophy. In contrast, Focus’s more traditional publishing model could afford Maverick greater creative freedom, allowing the studio to fine‑tune the balance between open‑world exploration and structured race events without the pressure of integrating deep cloud services from the outset. Industry analysts view the partnership as a positive sign for the future of open‑world racing games, a niche that has seen limited competition despite strong consumer interest.
Titles like *Forza Horizon* have demonstrated the commercial viability of expansive, free‑roam driving experiences, but few developers have attempted to push the boundaries further with fully dynamic economies, player‑driven events, and persistent world changes. If Maverick and Focus can deliver on these promises, Clutch could set a new benchmark for the genre.
In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of seasoned racing talent and a publisher eager to broaden its genre portfolio. With a slated spring 2027 launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Clutch aims to offer players an immersive, open‑world racing adventure that blends the best elements of realism and arcade excitement.
The partnership also reflects a broader industry trend of studios seeking publishing partners whose strategic goals align closely with their creative visions, ensuring that ambitious projects receive the support they need to reach a global audience.