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: it gives Focus its first foothold in the open‑world racing genre, while providing Maverick a new publishing home after a recent shift in partners. In early 2024 Maverick Games had initially signed a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for the same, as‑yet‑unnamed racing title.
However, Amazon chose to end that arrangement earlier this year, explaining that it wanted to concentrate its resources on initiatives that more directly leverage Amazon’s distinctive capabilities and scale. The decision left Maverick searching for a new partner that shared its long‑term vision for the IP. Harinder Sangha, co‑founder and chief operating officer of Maverick, told 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 the studio’s commitment to finding a publishing ally that not only understands the creative direction of Clutch but also has the distribution muscle to bring the game to a global audience. Focus Entertainment’s own statement highlighted the strategic importance of the deal.
The publisher 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." By adding an open‑world racing title to its catalogue, Focus aims to diversify its offerings beyond its existing slate of action‑adventure and narrative‑driven games, positioning itself as a broader‑spectrum publisher. Clutch is slated for a Spring 2027 release on the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The timeline gives the development team ample opportunity to refine the game’s expansive world, fine‑tune vehicle physics, and integrate the sophisticated AI systems that will populate the open environment. Industry analysts anticipate that an open‑world racing experience could fill a niche that has been largely unoccupied since the heyday of titles like Forza Horizon, offering players a seamless blend of exploration and high‑speed competition.
Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the publisher’s philosophy when he said, "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 Brown’s track record—particularly his work on the acclaimed Forza Horizon series—as a guarantee of quality and innovation. Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed the sentiment, stating, "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 a clear vision: to craft a racing universe where players can not only compete in traditional circuit events but also freely roam diverse landscapes, discover hidden challenges, and engage with a living, breathing world that reacts to their actions.
The partnership also places Clutch within the broader ecosystem of 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 that include Deck13, Streumon, Twelve Tenths, Leikir Studio, Blackmill, Dovetail, and Carpool Studio. This network provides Maverick access to a wealth of technical expertise, marketing resources, and cross‑studio collaborations that could enhance Clutch’s development pipeline.
Maverick Games itself is a relatively new studio, founded in 2023 by a group of former Playground Games developers. The team’s pedigree includes significant contributions to the Forza Horizon franchise, where Mike Brown served as creative director.
That experience gives the studio a deep understanding of what makes open‑world racing compelling: a balance of meticulously crafted environments, a diverse roster of vehicles, and a progression system that rewards both skill and exploration. Looking ahead, the collaboration between Maverick and Focus is poised to deliver a game that could set a new benchmark for the genre. By combining Maverick’s design expertise with Focus’s publishing muscle and Pullup’s extensive studio network, Clutch aims to offer a richly detailed world where players can drift through coastal highways, tackle mountain passes, and discover hidden shortcuts—all while competing in dynamic events that evolve over time.
The developers have hinted at a live‑service component that will introduce new cars, challenges, and seasonal content, ensuring the game remains fresh long after launch. In summary, the shift from Amazon Game Studios to Focus Entertainment represents a strategic realignment for Maverick Games, aligning the studio with a partner that shares its creative aspirations and has the infrastructure to support a major, open‑world racing title.
With a 2027 launch window, Clutch is positioned to become a flagship IP for both Maverick and Focus, potentially reshaping the landscape of racing games and offering players an unprecedented level of freedom and immersion on next‑generation consoles and PC.