French publisher Focus Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Maveric Games to bring to market the studio’s inaugural racing project, titled Clutch. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, as Focus seeks to broaden its catalogue into the open‑world racing genre while Maverick looks for a publishing home after its previous arrangement fell through.
In early 2024, Maverick Games entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the game that was at that point still under wraps. That partnership was dissolved earlier this year when Amazon decided to shift its focus toward initiatives that more directly leverage the company’s unique infrastructure, technology stack, and scale.
Amazon’s statement explained that the decision was driven by a strategic desire to concentrate on projects that align tightly with its core competencies. Following the split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio has been actively seeking new partners who share its long‑term vision for the intellectual property.
Sangha indicated that conversations are already underway with several interested parties and that Maverick expects to reveal more details about the partnership later in the year. Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity to publish Clutch, emphasizing that the title will be the first entry in its portfolio to explore the open‑world racing space.
In a press release, the publisher said that adding Clutch to its slate 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 company sees the game as a chance to diversify beyond its traditional offerings and to tap into the growing demand for expansive, sandbox‑style driving experiences. Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 launch across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The release window gives the development team ample time to refine the open‑world mechanics, polish the visual fidelity, and integrate the extensive car customization systems that have become a hallmark of modern racing titles.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, commented on the partnership, stating, "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 remarks underscore Focus’s strategy of aligning with studios that push genre boundaries and bring fresh perspectives to established gaming categories. Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed the sentiment, adding, "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 background includes a tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, giving him deep insight into what makes an open‑world racing game compelling. His experience is expected to inform Clutch’s design philosophy, which aims to blend high‑octane speed with a richly detailed, explorable environment. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media group that oversees three primary divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among the studios under Pullup’s umbrella are Deck13, known for narrative‑driven action titles; Streumon, which focuses on indie‑style projects; Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This network provides Focus with a robust infrastructure for publishing, marketing, and distribution, which should benefit Clutch’s rollout. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers. The studio’s leadership includes individuals who contributed to the success of the Forza Horizon franchise, bringing a wealth of expertise in creating expansive, visually stunning racing worlds. The company’s mission statement emphasizes a commitment to delivering innovative, player‑focused experiences that push the boundaries of what racing games can achieve.
The transition from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner reflects a broader trend in the industry where developers seek publishers that not only provide financial support but also share a creative vision. While Amazon’s decision to step back was framed as a strategic realignment, it opened the door for Maverick to align with a publisher whose portfolio and strategic goals are more closely aligned with an open‑world racing title. Looking ahead, both Maverick and Focus are expected to release additional information about Clutch in the coming months, including gameplay footage, system specifications, and details about the world’s geography and vehicle roster. Anticipation is building among racing enthusiasts who are eager to see how the game will differentiate itself from existing titles such as Forza Horizon, Need for Speed, and Gran Turismo, especially given the pedigree of its development team.
In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment signals a promising future for Clutch, a game that aims to combine the freedom of an open world with the thrills of high‑speed racing. With a spring 2027 release on the horizon and the backing of a publisher that is eager to expand into new genres, Clutch is positioned to become a noteworthy addition to the racing genre and potentially establish itself as a flagship IP for both companies.