Clutch, the open-world racer from ex-Forza Horizon devs, finds a new publisher in Focus Entertainment

Clutch, an open-world racing game from a studio built by former Forza Horizon developers, has a new publishing partner: Focus Entertainment. The deal was announced on 24 August 2026 on Focus's own news page, landing the debut title from Maverick Games on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with a Spring 2027 release window. Focus Entertainment

The agreement comes with a back story. Clutch was originally set to be published by Amazon, but Maverick Games and Amazon parted ways earlier in 2026. VGC No reason for the split has been disclosed. Either way, the game now has a new home — and a firm target.

Maverick Games is led by Mike Brown, the former creative director of Forza Horizon — the acclaimed open-world racing series published by Microsoft. The studio's team is drawn largely from the same franchise's alumni, making Clutch something of a spiritual successor in the genre. VGC The game was officially revealed over the summer and was playable by press during Summer Game Fest, giving outlets hands-on time well before the publishing switch.

Clutch follows a pair of racing siblings competing in the R1K, a prestigious historic racing series. Alongside the main competition, the game features the Midnight Collective — a group of car enthusiasts who value the love of driving over the money and fame of the R1K. The narrative framing sets up a tension between professional ambition and grassroots passion, though how that plays out in the final game remains to be seen. VGC

The departure from Amazon fits a wider pattern. Over the past year, Amazon has significantly scaled back its games operation, ending most of its MMO projects — massively multiplayer online games, where large numbers of players share a persistent world. Its MMO New World is set to shut down next year. Amazon also announced the closure of King of Meat, a platformer, and sold the MOBA March of Giants to Ubisoft. VGC

For Focus Entertainment, picking up Clutch adds a high-profile racing title to a publishing portfolio that spans a range of genres. For Maverick Games, it means a clear path to market after the Amazon deal fell through. Shacknews

Players will wait until Spring 2027 to see whether Clutch delivers on its open-world racing promise. But with a studio of Forza Horizon veterans, a publisher now in place, and platforms confirmed, the pieces are set.