French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing partnership with Maverik Games to bring the studio’s inaugural open‑world racing title, Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, combining Focus’s distribution expertise with Maverik’s vision for a fresh, immersive racing experience. In early 2024, Maverik Games originally struck a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the same yet‑to‑be‑announced project.
However, Amazon decided to dissolve the partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward initiatives that better exploit the company’s unique technological strengths and massive scale. The decision left Maverik searching for a new publishing home for its ambitious title. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverik, explained to 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 underscores the studio’s commitment to finding a partner whose goals align with the creative direction of Clutch, and it hints at further announcements as the launch window approaches.
Focus Entertainment’s leadership echoed this enthusiasm. The publisher said that adding Clutch to its catalogue 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." By venturing into the open‑world racing genre, Focus is expanding beyond its traditional focus on narrative‑driven and action‑oriented titles, aiming to capture a segment of the market that values freedom of exploration, vehicle customization, and dynamic environments.
Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 release on the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The three‑year development window reflects the complexity of building a seamless, living world where players can race across varied terrains, weather systems, and day‑night cycles without loading screens. The developers have promised a blend of high‑octane racing mechanics with the depth of an open‑world sandbox, allowing players to pursue both structured events and spontaneous street races.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the partnership philosophy: "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 highlights Brown’s reputation, built during his tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, and signals that Focus sees Clutch as a flagship project capable of elevating both brands. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverik Games, added his perspective: "We founded Maverik 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 comments reflect a long‑standing desire to push the boundaries of racing games beyond circuit‑based competition, integrating narrative elements, social hubs, and a persistent world that evolves over time.
The partnership also situates Clutch within a broader ecosystem of studios under the Pullup Entertainment umbrella. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup, which runs three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios such as Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This network provides Maverik with access to a wealth of technical resources, shared technology pipelines, and cross‑studio collaboration opportunities, potentially accelerating development milestones and enhancing the final product’s polish.
Maverik Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games veterans, bringing together talent that helped shape the Forza Horizon franchise. Their collective experience in creating expansive, visually stunning racing environments informs the design philosophy of Clutch, which aims to deliver a sense of scale and freedom comparable to open‑world action titles while retaining the precision and excitement expected from a racing game. The shift from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner may also influence the game’s marketing strategy. While Amazon’s platform‑centric approach could have emphasized integration with its cloud services and Prime Gaming benefits, Focus’s expertise lies in traditional retail and digital storefront promotion, as well as leveraging its relationships with console manufacturers for exclusive content or timed demos.
This could result in a broader, more diversified outreach campaign, including live events, community engagement programs, and collaborations with automotive brands to enhance authenticity. In summary, the new alliance between Maverik Games and Focus Entertainment positions Clutch as a highly anticipated entry into the open‑world racing genre. With a spring 2027 launch target, the title promises to blend the creative pedigree of its developers with the publishing muscle of a seasoned European publisher.
As the industry watches, both companies appear poised to deliver a racing experience that could set new standards for immersion, player agency, and genre innovation.