French publishing house Focus Entertainment has announced a new 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, as Focus seeks to broaden its catalogue with an open‑world racing experience, while Maverick looks to fulfill its long‑standing ambition of creating a large‑scale, immersive driving game.
Earlier in 2024, Maverick Games entered into a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios for the same, as‑yet‑unnamed title. However, Amazon decided to dissolve the agreement earlier this year, stating that it wanted to concentrate on initiatives that better align with the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
This decision left Maverick searching for a new partner that could support the vision and scope of the project. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, told 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." The search quickly led to Focus Entertainment, whose publishing arm has a reputation for backing ambitious, genre‑defining titles.
Focus Entertainment’s publishing division expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that bringing Clutch to market 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 publisher sees Clutch as a chance to diversify its offerings beyond the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven games that have traditionally comprised its slate. The game 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. This multi‑platform launch strategy is intended to reach a broad audience of racing enthusiasts, from casual players to hardcore sim fans.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy chief executive officer of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the company’s selection criteria: "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 comments highlight the respect that the industry holds for Maverick’s founder, Mike Brown, whose previous work on the Forza Horizon series earned him a reputation for pushing the boundaries of open‑world racing design. 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 statement underscores the synergy between the two companies: both are eager to deliver a game that blends expansive, detailed environments with high‑octane, accessible driving mechanics.
Focus Entertainment itself is a French publisher that operates under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment. Pullup’s structure includes 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 a robust ecosystem of resources, from funding and marketing expertise to technical support, that can help Maverick bring Clutch to fruition. Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers, a studio best known for its work on the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon franchise. Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on that series, brings a deep understanding of what makes open‑world racing compelling: a seamless blend of exploration, progression, and the thrill of high‑speed competition. His experience is expected to inform Clutch’s design philosophy, emphasizing player freedom, dynamic weather systems, and a living world that reacts to the player’s actions.
The transition from Amazon Game Studios to Focus Entertainment is more than a simple change of publisher; it reflects a strategic realignment for Maverick. While Amazon’s decision to step back was framed around focusing on projects that leverage its own infrastructure, the partnership with Focus offers Maverick a publisher that is more specialized in nurturing niche, high‑quality titles.
Focus’s track record of supporting indie and mid‑tier developers suggests that Maverick will receive the creative freedom and targeted marketing push needed to position Clutch as a standout entry in the crowded racing market. Industry analysts predict that Clutch could set a new benchmark for open‑world racing games if it successfully marries the expansive, sandbox‑style exploration that fans love from titles like Forza Horizon with a fresh narrative and competitive multiplayer components. The involvement of seasoned veterans from both Maverick and Focus raises expectations that the final product will feature meticulously crafted car physics, richly detailed environments, and a robust progression system that rewards both casual cruising and competitive racing.
In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a promising convergence of creative vision and publishing expertise. With a release window set for spring 2027 across major console platforms and PC, Clutch aims to deliver an immersive, open‑world racing experience that could redefine the genre and establish a new flagship IP for both companies.
The partnership underscores the importance of aligning with a publisher that shares the developer’s passion and ambition, and it sets the stage for what could become a landmark title in the racing game landscape.