French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing partnership with Maverik Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing project, titled Clutch, to market. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies as they aim to deliver an ambitious open‑world racing experience that could become a new flagship franchise in the genre.
The origins of Clutch trace back to 2024 when Maverick Games first struck a deal with Amazon Game Studios to develop the as‑yet‑unnamed title. That arrangement was dissolved earlier in the year when Amazon decided to shift its focus toward initiatives that better align with its proprietary strengths and the scale of its ecosystem. In a statement, Amazon explained that it was redirecting resources to projects that could fully exploit its unique capabilities, prompting both parties to amicably part ways.
Following the split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio had immediately begun "active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year." This search for a publishing ally led to the current partnership with Focus Entertainment, a well‑established French publisher known for supporting a diverse portfolio of titles across multiple platforms. Focus Entertainment’s leadership expressed enthusiasm for the venture.
The company’s publishing division said that bringing Clutch to market will "strengthen our 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." Deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, Vincent Chataignier, added that the publisher seeks to work with creators who are "redefining their genre" and 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." Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed this sentiment, explaining that the studio was founded with the explicit purpose of building the open‑world racing experience he had envisioned 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 said. The partnership therefore aligns two entities with a common vision: to craft a racing game that not only offers high‑octane thrills but also immerses players in a richly detailed, living world.
Clutch 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. The extended development timeline reflects the team’s commitment to polishing every aspect of the game, from realistic vehicle physics and dynamic weather systems to a sprawling open map that encourages exploration beyond traditional race tracks. The background of Maverick Games adds further credibility to the project.
The studio was founded in 2023 by a group of former developers from Playground Games, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series. Mike Brown himself served as creative director on several Forza Horizon installments, giving him deep expertise in crafting expansive, visually stunning racing environments. This pedigree suggests that Clutch will benefit from a wealth of experience in both the technical and artistic realms of racing game development. Focus Entertainment, a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, operates three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios that include Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This extensive network provides Maverick with access to a broad range of resources, from marketing expertise to technical support, which can help ensure that Clutch reaches its full potential in a competitive market. The shift from Amazon to Focus also illustrates a broader trend in the industry where developers seek publishing partners that offer not just financial backing but also strategic alignment with the creative direction of a project. While Amazon’s decision to discontinue the partnership was framed around internal priorities, the move opened the door for Maverick to collaborate with a publisher that explicitly champions innovative, genre‑defining experiences.
Looking ahead, both companies have hinted at further announcements later in the year, suggesting that additional details about Clutch—such as gameplay features, car rosters, and world design—may be revealed as the launch window approaches. Fans of open‑world games and racing enthusiasts alike are therefore encouraged to keep an eye on upcoming press releases, trailers, and developer diaries that will shed more light on what promises to be a landmark title. In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of seasoned talent, strategic publishing support, and a shared ambition to push the boundaries of open‑world racing.
With a release targeted for spring 2027 across major platforms, Clutch aims to deliver a fresh, immersive experience that could redefine expectations for the genre and establish a lasting franchise for both studios.