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 with a seasoned publishing ally after a recent change in partners.
In early 2024, Maverick Games had initially signed a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the game, which at that time was still under wraps. However, Amazon chose to end the arrangement earlier this year, citing a strategic shift toward 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 title.
Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, explained to GamesIndustry.biz that the studio is now engaged 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 partner that not only provides financial support but also resonates with the creative vision behind Clutch. Focus Entertainment’s publishing division welcomed the opportunity, stating that adding Clutch to its catalogue 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.” The French publisher sees the title as a chance to diversify its offerings and to cement its reputation for backing innovative, genre‑defining projects. Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms.
The game promises an expansive, open‑world environment that blends high‑octane racing with a richly detailed world for players to explore. By targeting next‑generation consoles and PC, the developers aim to leverage the latest hardware capabilities to deliver stunning visuals, realistic physics, and an immersive audio experience. 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 mutual respect between the two companies and their shared belief that Clutch can set new standards within the racing game market.
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 comments reflect the studio’s long‑standing passion for creating a game that blends the freedom of an open world with the thrill of competitive racing, a combination that has been relatively rare in the industry. Focus Entertainment itself is a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media group that operates three core divisions: Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a collection of development studios. Among the studios under Pullup’s umbrella are Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio.
This network provides a robust infrastructure for supporting game development, from funding and marketing to technical assistance and distribution. Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers, a studio renowned for its work on the Forza Horizon series. Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director on those acclaimed titles, brings a wealth of experience in crafting expansive, visually striking racing environments.
His background informs the design philosophy of Clutch, which aims to push the boundaries of what an open‑world racing game can achieve. The transition from Amazon to Focus as the publishing partner is significant not only for the business arrangement but also for the creative direction of the project. While Amazon’s decision to step away was framed around aligning with projects that leverage its own strengths, the move to Focus allows Maverick to collaborate with a publisher whose primary focus is on nurturing creative talent and delivering genre‑defining experiences.
This alignment is expected to give the development team greater freedom to iterate on gameplay mechanics, world design, and narrative elements without the pressure of fitting into a broader corporate strategy. Industry observers note that the open‑world racing niche has been relatively underserved, with most major racing franchises opting for more linear track‑based experiences.
Clutch’s ambition to combine a seamless, explorable world with deep, competitive racing could fill a gap in the market and attract both fans of traditional racing games and players who enjoy the freedom of open‑world titles. Looking ahead, both Maverick and Focus plan to keep the community informed with regular updates, developer diaries, and possibly early access demos as the project progresses toward its 2027 launch window. The partnership signals a strong commitment to delivering a polished, innovative product that could become a cornerstone of the next generation of racing games.
In summary, the collaboration between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative vision and publishing expertise. With a seasoned team at the helm, a clear release schedule, and a focus on delivering a fresh, open‑world racing experience, Clutch is positioned to make a notable impact on the gaming landscape when it arrives in the spring of 2027.