French publishing house Focus Entertainment has entered into a 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 Focus its first foray into the open‑world racing genre, while providing Maverick a new publishing home after an earlier arrangement fell through. In early 2024, Maverick Games had initially secured a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the as‑yet‑unnamed racing title.
However, Amazon chose to dissolve the partnership earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward projects that better align with the company’s unique capabilities and scale. The decision left Maverick searching for a new partner 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 "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 ally that not only provides financial backing but also aligns with the creative direction and ambition of the Clutch universe. 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 racing title to its catalogue, Focus aims to diversify its offerings beyond the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven experiences for which it is traditionally known.
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 designed to reach a broad audience of racing enthusiasts, from console loyalists to PC gamers who appreciate high‑fidelity graphics and deep customization options. 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." This endorsement highlights the respect that industry veterans have for Maverick’s founder, Mike Brown, whose reputation stems from his previous work on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series.
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." His comments reflect a deep personal investment in the project, rooted in a desire to push the boundaries of what an open‑world racing game can offer—seamless transitions between city streets, countryside highways, and off‑road terrain, all populated by a living, dynamic environment. Focus Entertainment, a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, operates three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a suite of development studios that include Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This extensive network provides a robust infrastructure for supporting large‑scale projects like Clutch, from marketing and distribution to technical support and post‑launch services.
Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers. The studio’s pedigree includes significant contributions to the Forza Horizon franchise, where Mike Brown served as creative director.
That experience informs the design philosophy of Clutch, which aims to blend the exhilarating speed and freedom of open‑world exploration with a deep sense of progression, vehicle customization, and community‑driven events. The transition from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner is more than a simple change of name; it reflects a broader industry trend where developers seek publishers that can provide not only capital but also genre‑specific expertise and a collaborative vision. Focus’s emphasis on nurturing creative voices aligns well with Maverick’s goal of delivering a fresh, immersive racing experience that stands out in a crowded market dominated by established franchises. Looking ahead, both companies anticipate a series of announcements throughout the remainder of 2026, including gameplay reveals, beta testing opportunities, and details about the world design of Clutch.
These updates will aim to build anticipation among gamers and demonstrate the unique features that set Clutch apart—such as a living ecosystem where weather patterns affect driving conditions, a robust online multiplayer framework, and a narrative layer that integrates player choices into the evolving game world. In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative ambition and publishing capability. With a spring 2027 launch on major consoles and PC, Clutch is poised to become a notable entry in the open‑world racing genre, offering players a richly detailed world to explore, a diverse roster of vehicles to master, and a fresh take on the racing experience that reflects the combined expertise of its developers and publishers.