French publisher Focus Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Maverik Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing title, Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant shift for both companies, as it follows an earlier arrangement with Amazon Game Studios that was dissolved earlier in the year. In early 2024 Maverick Games entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for a racing project that had not yet been publicly revealed. However, Amazon later decided to end the partnership, stating that it wanted to concentrate on initiatives that better aligned with the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new publishing home for its ambitious open‑world racing concept. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, 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 sentiment underscores Maverick’s determination to find a publisher that not only provides financial backing but also believes in the creative vision behind Clutch. Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity, emphasizing 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, which is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, sees the title as a strategic addition that diversifies its catalogue beyond the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven games it traditionally supports. The game is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
By targeting the current generation of consoles and the PC market, Maverick hopes to reach a broad audience of racing enthusiasts who are eager for a fresh, open‑world experience that blends high‑octane speed with expansive, explorative environments. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, added that the company seeks partnerships with creators who are "redefining their genre." He highlighted that "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 signals a strong alignment of values between the two firms, with both aiming to push the boundaries of what a modern racing game can deliver.
Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, echoed this enthusiasm: "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 a deep understanding of how to blend open‑world exploration with high‑speed racing mechanics. His experience, combined with the resources of Focus, positions Clutch to potentially become a flagship title in the genre.
Focus Entertainment itself is part of the larger Pullup Entertainment group, which operates 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 extensive network provides Maverick with access to a wealth of technical expertise, marketing channels, and distribution infrastructure that can help bring Clutch to a global audience.
Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers. The studio’s leadership includes industry veterans who have contributed to several high‑profile racing projects, most notably the Forza Horizon franchise. Their collective experience informs the design philosophy behind Clutch, which aims to deliver a seamless blend of realistic vehicle physics, dynamic weather systems, and a richly detailed open world that encourages both competitive racing and leisurely exploration.
The decision to move from Amazon to Focus reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry where independent studios seek publishing partners that are more closely aligned with their creative goals rather than purely financial considerations. While Amazon’s strategic shift toward projects that leverage its cloud infrastructure and e‑commerce ecosystem made sense for the tech giant, it left a gap for Maverick’s vision of a genre‑defining racing game. Focus Entertainment’s willingness to invest in a niche yet promising segment—open‑world racing—demonstrates its confidence in the market potential of such titles.
Industry analysts predict that the open‑world racing sub‑genre is poised for growth, with players increasingly looking for experiences that go beyond traditional circuit racing. Games that combine the freedom of exploration with the thrill of high‑speed competition have proven successful in recent years, and Clutch aims to build on that momentum by offering a fresh aesthetic, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a narrative layer that immerses players in a living, breathing world.
In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of creative ambition and publishing support. With a release scheduled for spring 2027 on the major console platforms and PC, Clutch is positioned to become a landmark title that could reshape expectations for open‑world racing games. Both companies appear committed to delivering a polished, immersive experience that will resonate with both hardcore racing fans and newcomers alike.