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. This collaboration marks a significant step for both companies: Focus expands its catalogue into the open‑world racing genre, while Maverick secures a seasoned partner to help launch its flagship IP. The road to this agreement began in 2024, when Maverick first struck a deal with Amazon Game Studios to develop the then‑unannounced racing title. However, Amazon chose to dissolve the partnership earlier in the year, stating that it needed to concentrate on initiatives that better align with the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new publishing home for its ambitious project. 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 commitment to finding 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 sees the title as a chance to diversify its offerings beyond the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven games that have defined much of its recent output. The game itself is slated for a Spring 2027 release across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. According to the information released so far, Clutch will immerse players in a sprawling, open‑world environment where they can explore a variety of locales, customize vehicles, and engage in high‑octane races that blend realistic physics with arcade‑style thrills.
The developers aim to push the boundaries of what an open‑world racing experience can deliver, offering both casual pick‑up‑and‑play sessions and deep, progression‑driven gameplay for hardcore enthusiasts. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, added his perspective on the partnership: "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 leadership, particularly Mike Brown, whose background includes serving as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, echoed this enthusiasm, stating: "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 vision for Clutch is rooted in a desire to blend the freedom of open‑world exploration with the precision and excitement of high‑performance racing, creating a title that feels both fresh and familiar to fans of the genre. Focus Entertainment itself is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media group that oversees three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among the studios under Pullup’s umbrella are Deck13, known for the Gothic‑style titles The Surge series; Streumon, the creators of the tactical shooter Darkwood; Twelve Tenths, an indie studio focused on narrative experiences; Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio, each bringing a unique set of skills to the broader Pullup portfolio. This extensive network provides Focus with a robust infrastructure for marketing, distribution, and cross‑studio collaboration, resources that will be leveraged to promote Clutch worldwide.
Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers, a studio best known for the Forza Horizon franchise. This lineage gives Maverick a deep well of expertise in crafting expansive, visually stunning racing environments. Mike Brown’s previous role as creative director on the Forza Horizon series equips him with a clear understanding of how to balance accessibility with depth—a balance that Clutch aims to achieve.
In addition to the core gameplay loop, the developers have hinted at several ancillary features that will enrich the player experience. These include a robust vehicle customization system allowing players to modify performance parts, visual aesthetics, and even audio profiles; dynamic weather and day‑night cycles that affect race conditions; and a live‑service component that will introduce new tracks, events, and community challenges post‑launch.
By integrating these elements, Maverick hopes to keep the world of Clutch feeling alive and evolving long after the initial release. The partnership with Focus also opens doors for broader marketing initiatives, including potential collaborations with automotive brands, esports tournaments, and streaming events.
Focus’s experience in publishing large‑scale titles positions it to secure high‑visibility placements at major gaming conventions such as E3, Gamescom, and the Tokyo Game Show, where Clutch can be showcased to both media and consumers. Overall, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative ambition and publishing expertise. With a release window set for Spring 2027, the industry will be watching closely to see how Clutch performs in a competitive market dominated by established franchises.
If successful, the game could not only solidify Maverick’s reputation as a next‑generation racing studio but also establish Clutch as a new pillar in the open‑world racing genre, paving the way for future expansions, sequels, and perhaps even a broader ecosystem of related content. The upcoming title promises to deliver an exhilarating blend of exploration and speed, inviting players to carve their own paths through meticulously crafted landscapes while competing in heart‑pounding races.
As the development timeline progresses, further details about gameplay mechanics, story elements, and multiplayer features are expected to emerge, building anticipation among racing enthusiasts worldwide.