French publisher Focus Entertainment has announced a new 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, as it combines Focus’s publishing expertise with Maverick’s fresh vision for an open‑world racing experience. Earlier in 2024, Maverick Games entered into a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios for the same, at the time, undisclosed 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 distinctive capabilities and scale.
The decision left Maverick searching for a new publishing home, and the partnership with Focus Entertainment quickly emerged as a natural fit. 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 comment underscores Maverick’s commitment to finding a partner that not only provides financial support but also believes in the creative direction of the Clutch universe.
Focus Entertainment, in turn, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal. The publisher said that adding Clutch to its catalogue 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 venturing into the open‑world racing genre, Focus aims to diversify its offerings beyond its existing slate of narrative‑driven and action‑oriented titles. Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 release on the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The game promises an expansive, seamless world where players can explore diverse environments, compete in high‑octane races, and customize a wide range of vehicles. The developers have hinted at a blend of realistic physics and arcade‑style fun, aiming to appeal to both hardcore simulation fans and casual gamers. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the partnership philosophy, stating: "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 signals that Focus sees Maverick’s team as a catalyst for innovation within the racing space. 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 background includes a tenure as creative director on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, giving him deep insight into what makes open‑world racing compelling. The partnership also places Clutch within a broader ecosystem of studios and resources owned by Pullup Entertainment, the parent company of Focus Entertainment. Pullup 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 network provides Maverick with access to a wealth of technical expertise, marketing channels, and distribution infrastructure. Maverick Games itself is a relatively young studio, founded in 2023 by a group of former Playground Games developers. The team’s pedigree includes work on the Forza Horizon franchise, which is widely praised for its blend of high‑speed racing and richly detailed open worlds.
Leveraging that experience, Maverick aims to push the boundaries further with Clutch, introducing new mechanics like dynamic weather systems, player‑driven economies, and a narrative layer that ties together the racing events. In addition to the core gameplay loop, the developers have hinted at post‑launch support plans, including seasonal content drops, community‑driven events, and potential expansions that could introduce new regions, vehicle types, and competitive modes. By committing to a long‑term service model, Maverick hopes to keep the player base engaged for years after the initial launch.
The decision by Amazon to step away from the project has been interpreted by industry observers as part of a broader shift within Amazon Game Studios, which has been refocusing on titles that leverage its cloud infrastructure, e‑commerce ecosystem, and AI capabilities. This strategic realignment opened a window for other publishers, like Focus, to step in and fill the gap left by Amazon’s withdrawal. Overall, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of creative talent and publishing muscle.
With a clear release window, a solid platform lineup, and a shared vision for an ambitious open‑world racing experience, Clutch is positioned to become a noteworthy addition to the genre when it arrives in spring 2027.