Focus Backs CLUTCH, but Its Forza Horizon Pedigree Needs Proof

A French Riviera road can sell a racing game in seconds, but the real test comes after the postcard view: does the driving, garage work, and event structure hold together? CLUTCH now has the publishing support to answer that question, with Focus Entertainment making its first move into open-world racing through Maverick Games’ debut title.

The partnership puts CLUTCH on track for spring 2027 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, including Steam and the Epic Games Store. Maverick was founded in 2023 by former Playground Games developers and is led by Mike Brown, previously a creative director on Forza Horizon. That background makes the comparison unavoidable, but it is a useful expectation-setter rather than a guarantee: players should expect an accessible open-world driving game with personality, not assume Forza’s event density or handling model has been copied.

Focus is pitching CLUTCH as a cinematic action-driving game built around young racers moving between professional motorsport and illegal street racing. Its advertised day-to-night structure, open-world setting, and vehicle customization establish the broad shape. The game also features Theo, played by Tosin Cole, and Cass Martial, played by Little Simz; action missions include gadgets such as a grappling hook that can slingshot a car around tight corners.

The deal is a meaningful reset for Maverick. The studio had partnered with Amazon Game Studios on an earlier version of the project in 2024 before that agreement ended in 2026. Focus, whose catalogue includes games such as Space Marine, Atomic Heart, and MudRunner, is now positioning CLUTCH as a potential flagship new racing IP rather than a one-off release.

What remains unknown matters more than the cinematic pitch: Focus and Maverick have not detailed online play, wheel support, handling style, progression, police systems, event formats, or the depth of customization. Treat spring 2027 as the target, and watch the next reveal for those practical systems before treating CLUTCH as the next Forza Horizon-sized contender.