Playstack, the publisher behind hit indie games such as Balatro and Abiotic Factor, is set to move under majority ownership of Integrated Media Company, the investment group that also owns GameSpot, Fandom, Screen Junkies, and Fanatical. TruFin, Playstack’s current owner, said the proposed sale would transfer its 84.5 percent stake to VantageCo, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of IMC.
The deal values Playstack at around £125 million, or $169 million, and still needs shareholder approval. TruFin’s board is recommending that investors vote in favor of the sale, which the company described as an important step in its capital allocation strategy.
What the deal means for Playstack
TruFin announced the proposed transaction on May 21, 2026, and said it expects to receive around £112.4 million, or $151 million, for its controlling stake. That amount reflects the company’s plan to exit ownership of the UK publisher while keeping the business with a larger media and investment group.
TruFin CEO James van den Bergh said the sale marks “a milestone for TruFin” and praised the work done with the Playstack team over the past few years. He also said the company looks forward to seeing Playstack continue to grow under its new ownership.
Playstack says its identity will stay the same
Playstack founder and CEO Harvey Elliott also addressed the planned sale in a brief statement on the company website. He said the move is “a change in ownership rather than a change in who we are,” and stressed that the team, strategy, and focus on premium indie publishing will remain unchanged.
Elliott added that “for now, it’s business as usual,” while thanking TruFin for being “an invaluable partner” over the past seven years. The message was meant to reassure partners and fans that the publisher’s day-to-day operations are expected to continue without disruption.
A strong commercial track record supports the sale
The transaction comes after Playstack highlighted a hit ratio of more than 85 percent earlier this year, meaning most of its released games have generated a positive return on development costs. That performance has helped position the company as a profitable indie publisher in a crowded market.
Playstack also said its combined catalog has grossed more than $100 million on Steam and delivered over 20 million downloads during the last fiscal year. Those figures underline why the publisher has become an attractive asset for IMC, which already has a broad portfolio of entertainment and gaming-related brands.
IMC expands its gaming and media footprint
IMC’s ownership of GameSpot and other digital entertainment brands gives the group a strong platform to support Playstack’s next phase. The planned acquisition adds another notable games business to a portfolio that already reaches audiences across news, fandom, deals, and enthusiast content.
For Playstack, the sale could bring more room to grow while keeping its publishing approach intact. The company’s leadership has made clear that the label, its strategy, and its focus on premium indie titles are expected to stay in place as the ownership transition moves forward.
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