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. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, positioning Clutch as a flagship entry in the open‑world racing genre. The origins of the project trace back to 2024, when Maverick first secured a publishing arrangement with Amazon Game Studios for the then‑undisclosed game. That partnership, however, was dissolved earlier in the year when Amazon decided to redirect its resources toward initiatives that more directly exploit the company’s unique capabilities and scale.
In a statement, Amazon explained that the decision was driven by a strategic focus on projects that align closely with its core strengths. Following the split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio immediately began “active dialogue with partners who share our long‑term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year.” This outreach led to the current agreement with Focus Entertainment, a publisher with a growing portfolio and a keen interest in expanding into new genres. Focus Entertainment highlighted that adding Clutch to its slate 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 publisher sees the title as an opportunity to diversify its offerings beyond the action‑adventure and narrative‑driven games for which it is traditionally known.
Clutch is slated for release in the spring of 2027 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game promises an expansive, open‑world environment where players can explore a richly detailed landscape, customize a wide array of vehicles, and engage in high‑octane races that blend realistic physics with arcade‑style thrills. 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 underscores the publisher’s confidence in Maverick’s vision and the talent behind the project.
Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed the sentiment, adding, “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 expertise in crafting immersive racing experiences.
Focus Entertainment itself is a French publishing house that operates under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment. Pullup’s structure comprises three primary 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 a robust support system for titles like Clutch, offering resources ranging from marketing and distribution to technical assistance and quality assurance. Maverick Games was founded in 2023 by a team of former Playground Games developers.
The studio’s formation was driven by a desire to push the boundaries of open‑world racing, an ambition that had been simmering among its founders for several years. Their collective experience includes work on high‑profile racing franchises, which equips them with the knowledge to blend open‑world exploration with competitive racing mechanics. The decision to shift publishing partners from Amazon to Focus reflects a broader industry trend where developers seek publishers that can provide genre‑specific expertise and a more hands‑on approach to nurturing a title’s development.
While Amazon’s vast infrastructure offers unparalleled reach, Focus’s focused strategy and deep connections within the racing community promise a more tailored partnership for Maverick. Looking ahead, both Maverick and Focus anticipate a collaborative development cycle that will see regular updates, beta testing phases, and community engagement initiatives.
Early access windows and closed‑alpha trials are planned to gather player feedback, which will inform refinements to vehicle handling, world design, and multiplayer features. The goal is to ensure that Clutch not only meets but exceeds the expectations of both hardcore racing enthusiasts and casual gamers seeking an immersive open‑world experience. In summary, the partnership between Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment represents a strategic alignment of creative vision and publishing capability. With a release targeted for spring 2027 across major consoles and PC, Clutch aims to carve out a distinctive niche in the racing genre, offering players a fresh, expansive playground where speed, strategy, and exploration converge.