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. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies: it gives Maverick a seasoned publishing partner after an earlier arrangement fell through, and it adds an open‑world racing experience to Focus’s growing catalogue. In early 2024, Maverick Games had initially signed a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the same, at‑the‑time‑undisclosed, racing 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.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new ally that shared its long‑term vision for the intellectual property. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio is now engaged 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 partner whose goals align with the studio’s own aspirations for Clutch.
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." By adding an open‑world title to its slate, Focus diversifies beyond its existing portfolio, which includes a mix of narrative‑driven games and action‑oriented titles. The game is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
This multi‑platform launch reflects the developers’ intention to reach a broad audience of racing enthusiasts across the major current‑generation consoles and the PC market. 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 remarks highlight the respect Focus has for Maverick’s creative leadership and its desire to support projects that push genre boundaries. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, added his 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 reinforces the studio’s original mission—to craft an expansive, immersive racing environment that goes beyond the traditional circuit‑based formats. Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a French 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, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This network provides a robust infrastructure for publishing, marketing, and development support, which should benefit the rollout of Clutch. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers.
The studio’s leadership includes Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Brown’s experience on that franchise—known for its seamless blend of open‑world exploration and high‑octane racing—directly informs the design philosophy behind Clutch.
The team aims to deliver a world where players can freely roam, discover hidden routes, and engage in dynamic events that evolve over time. The transition from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner is noteworthy in the broader industry context. Amazon Game Studios has been selective in recent years, focusing on titles that can leverage its cloud infrastructure, AI capabilities, and massive distribution network. By stepping away from Clutch, Amazon signaled a strategic refocus, while Focus seized the chance to expand into a genre where it previously had limited presence.
This shift illustrates how publishing relationships can evolve based on each company’s changing priorities and strengths. Looking ahead, the partnership promises several advantages for both parties. For Maverick, the alignment with Focus means access to a seasoned publishing team, marketing expertise, and a distribution framework that spans multiple regions.
For Focus, Clutch represents an entry point into the lucrative open‑world racing market, a segment dominated by a few heavyweight franchises but still ripe for innovation. The collaboration could set a new benchmark for how open‑world racing games are conceptualized, developed, and brought to market.
As the development timeline progresses toward the 2027 spring launch, fans can anticipate regular updates, behind‑the‑scenes looks, and possibly early access or demo opportunities. The combined pedigree of Maverick’s racing pedigree and Focus’s publishing acumen suggests that Clutch aims to be more than just another racing title; it aspires to become a flagship IP that defines a new era of open‑world automotive experiences. In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment marks a pivotal moment for both studios.
With Amazon’s departure, Maverick secured a partner that not only respects its creative vision but also provides the resources needed to realize an ambitious open‑world racing game. Focus, meanwhile, diversifies its portfolio and positions itself as a champion of genre‑defining projects.
If the collaboration lives up to its promises, Clutch could emerge as a landmark title that reshapes expectations for racing games in the next generation of consoles and PC platforms.