Focus Entertainment to publish open-world racer 'Clutch' from Maverick Games

Focus Entertainment has entered into a major publishing partnership with independent studio Maverick Games to bring the open-world racing title Clutch to market. The agreement ensures the project's path to release following a period of instability regarding its funding and distribution.

Scheduled for launch in early- to mid-2027, Clutch will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game is set against the backdrop of the French Riviera, with players navigating high-fidelity recreations of Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez. The gameplay departs from traditional racing by blending circuit and street racing with action-oriented missions and heists. To facilitate these objectives, the game introduces specialized car gadgets, including a grappling hook.

A Shift in Strategy

The road to this partnership was marked by a significant corporate pivot. Maverick Games had initially secured a publishing deal with Amazon, but the tech giant backed out of the project earlier this year. Amazon described the withdrawal as part of a "strategic evolution," leaving the independent studio without a publisher until the recent deal with Focus Entertainment.

Maverick Games was founded in 2022 by industry veterans. The team consists of former developers from Playground Games, the studio responsible for the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series. This pedigree has made the project a high-value target for publishers looking to capture the open-world driving market.

Market Implications

For Focus Entertainment, the acquisition of Clutch represents a strategic expansion into a new vertical, marking the company's first entry into the open-world racing genre. By partnering with a team that helped define one of the most successful racing franchises in history, Focus is positioning itself to compete in a high-growth segment of the simulation and arcade racing market.

Vincent Chataignier, deputy CEO of Focus Entertainment, noted that the team is regarded as "one of the defining creative voices in the racing genre," stating that Clutch embodies the creative ambition the company intends to champion.

Looking Ahead

With a publisher now locked in, the focus shifts to the game's development leading up to its 2027 window. Industry observers will be watching to see how Maverick Games integrates its action-based heist mechanics with the open-world exploration of the French Riviera. While the publishing hurdle has been cleared, the project remains in the mid-stages of development, with further gameplay reveals expected as the release date approaches.