French publishing house Focus Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Maverick Games to bring the studio’s inaugural racing title, Clutch, to market. This collaboration marks a significant step for both companies, as it combines Maverick’s fresh creative vision with Focus’s extensive publishing expertise. The origins of Clutch trace back to early 2024, when Maverick Games first entered into a publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios for an as‑yet‑unnamed project.
That relationship, however, came to an end earlier this year when Amazon decided to shift its focus toward initiatives that more directly leverage its unique technological capabilities and massive scale. In a statement, Amazon explained that the decision was driven by a strategic realignment rather than any reflection on the quality or potential of Maverick’s work. Following the Amazon split, Maverick’s co‑founder and chief operating officer Harinder Sangha told GamesIndustry.biz that the studio immediately began seeking new partners who share its long‑term ambitions for the Clutch intellectual property. "We are in active dialogue with partners who understand the scale and vision we have for Clutch, and we look forward to revealing more details later this year," Sangha said.
Focus Entertainment welcomed the opportunity, emphasizing that publishing Clutch would broaden its portfolio by adding its first open‑world racing title. "This partnership strengthens our lineup and aligns with our desire to deliver a standout experience that could become a flagship racing IP," the publisher noted. The company highlighted a shared ambition to craft a game that not only pushes technical boundaries but also offers an immersive, living world for players to explore.
Clutch is slated for a spring 2027 release across the major current‑generation platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game promises an expansive open‑world environment where players can freely roam, compete in high‑speed events, and customize their vehicles in unprecedented ways.
By blending the freedom of an open world with the adrenaline of competitive racing, Maverick aims to set a new benchmark for the genre. Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment Publishing, elaborated on the partnership philosophy: "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 underscore Focus’s commitment to backing visionary developers who can innovate within established categories. Maverick’s founder and chief executive officer, Mike Brown, echoed the sentiment, explaining the studio’s founding purpose: "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 insight into what makes open‑world racing compelling. His experience, combined with the talent of his team—many of whom previously worked at Playground Games—positions Maverick to deliver a game that could redefine expectations for the genre. Focus Entertainment itself is a French publisher operating under the umbrella of Pullup Entertainment. Pullup’s structure comprises three core 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 diversified ecosystem provides a robust support network for titles like Clutch, offering everything from technical assistance to marketing reach. The partnership between Maverick and Focus also reflects broader industry trends where independent studios seek publishing partners that can provide not just funding but also strategic guidance and distribution muscle. For Maverick, aligning with a publisher that understands the nuances of open‑world design and racing mechanics is crucial. For Focus, adding a high‑profile racing IP to its slate diversifies its offerings and strengthens its foothold in a competitive market dominated by long‑standing franchises.
In addition to the core game, the developers have hinted at post‑launch support that could include seasonal events, new vehicle packs, and expansions that further flesh out the world. Such a live‑service approach is increasingly common in modern racing games, allowing developers to keep the community engaged long after the initial release.
Overall, the Clutch partnership signals a promising future for both Maverick Games and Focus Entertainment. By combining Maverick’s creative pedigree—rooted in the Forza Horizon lineage—and Focus’s publishing infrastructure, the two companies aim to deliver a racing experience that is both technically impressive and richly immersive. As the spring 2027 launch date approaches, fans of the genre can anticipate more detailed reveals, trailers, and gameplay demonstrations that will showcase the unique blend of open‑world freedom and high‑octane competition that Clutch promises to deliver.