French publisher Focus Entertainment has entered into a publishing partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing title, 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 partner after an earlier arrangement with Amazon Game Studios fell through.
In early 2024 Maverick Games had originally signed a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the project, which at the time was still under wraps and had no public title. However, Amazon decided to end the partnership 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 open‑world racing vision. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick Games, told 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 statement underscored Maverick’s commitment to finding a publisher that not only understands the technical demands of an expansive racing world but also embraces the creative direction the team has charted. Focus Entertainment responded enthusiastically to the opportunity.
In a press release the company said 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." For Focus, the partnership represents a strategic diversification beyond its existing catalogue, which includes a mix of narrative‑driven titles, action‑adventure games, and indie projects. The game itself is slated for a spring 2027 launch across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Clutch promises an expansive, seamless world where players can explore diverse environments, compete in a variety of race formats, and customize their vehicles with a depth rarely seen in the genre. The developers have hinted at dynamic weather systems, a living ecosystem of AI‑driven traffic, and a narrative thread that ties the racing events together, aiming to give players a sense of purpose beyond pure competition. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, explained the rationale behind 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." Chataignier’s remarks highlight the publisher’s belief that Maverick’s leadership, particularly studio head Mike Brown, brings a fresh perspective that could push the boundaries of what open‑world racing games can achieve. Mike Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Maverick Games, added his own 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 a deep understanding of both the technical and artistic elements required to craft a compelling racing sandbox. His vision for Clutch is to blend the freedom of an open world with the thrill of high‑octane competition, delivering a game that feels both accessible to newcomers and richly layered for genre veterans.
Focus Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Pullup Entertainment, a larger media conglomerate that oversees several distinct divisions. Pullup’s core segments include Focus Entertainment Publishing, the Arcade Crew, and a suite of development studios such as Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This network provides a robust infrastructure for marketing, distribution, and post‑launch support, which Maverick hopes to leverage in order to maximize Clutch’s reach and longevity. Maverick Games itself was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers.
The studio’s lineage traces back to the creators of the popular Forza Horizon franchise, which is renowned for its open‑world design and vibrant, community‑driven events. By assembling talent with a proven track record in delivering large‑scale, high‑quality racing experiences, Maverick aims to translate that expertise into a new intellectual property that can stand on its own. The transition from Amazon to Focus as a publishing partner is indicative of the fluid nature of modern game development deals.
While Amazon’s withdrawal was framed as a strategic realignment, it also opened the door for Maverick to align with a publisher whose core focus aligns more closely with the studio’s creative aspirations. Focus’s commitment to nurturing innovative IPs and its established relationships with platform holders should provide Maverick with the resources needed to bring Clutch to fruition on schedule.
Looking ahead, both companies are optimistic about the project’s potential. The partnership is expected to involve close collaboration on everything from technical optimization for next‑gen consoles to marketing campaigns that highlight the game’s unique selling points—namely its open‑world scale, deep vehicle customization, and narrative integration.
Early gameplay footage and developer diaries are planned for release throughout 2025, building anticipation among racing enthusiasts and the broader gaming community. In summary, the alliance between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a convergence of seasoned racing talent and a publisher eager to expand into new territory. With a spring 2027 release window, Clutch aims to set a new benchmark for open‑world racing games, offering players an immersive, richly detailed world to explore and dominate.
The combined experience of Maverick’s development pedigree and Focus’s publishing muscle positions Clutch to become a landmark title in the genre, potentially paving the way for future expansions, downloadable content, and perhaps even a franchise that could rival the likes of Forza Horizon and Gran Turismo in the years to come.