Balatro owner Playstack sold to parent company of Fandom, Gamespot

In an exciting development, Integrated Media Company (IMC), the parent entity of gaming powerhouses Fandom and Gamespot, is poised to take over a significant stake in Balatro publisher, Playstack. This potential acquisition was announced by Turin, Playstack’s current owner, earlier this week, as reported by Game Developer.

Turin disclosed to investors that it has reached an agreement to sell its 84.5 percent share in the UK-based publisher to VantageCo, a direct subsidiary of IMC, for a staggering £112.4 million ($151 million). If this deal is approved by shareholders, Playstack will find itself under the same umbrella as renowned entertainment brands such as Fandom, Screen Junkies, Fanatical, and GameSpot.

Playstack boasts an impressive ‘hit ratio’ of over 85 percent. The combined catalog of Playstack games has garnered more than $100 million on Steam and recorded over 20 million downloads during its last fiscal year, underscoring the publisher’s significant impact in the gaming industry.

TruFin’s chief executive, James van den Bergh, announced that the company’s decision to divest Playstack marks a pivotal moment for TruFin, underscoring its disciplined capital allocation and focus on creating shareholder value.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with the Playstack team over the past few years and look forward to witnessing their continued success,” van den Bergh added. “MC is an exceptional platform for Playstack’s next phase, and we wish the IMC team all the best moving forward.”

Playstack founder and CEO Harvey Elliot expressed enthusiasm about the transition, noting that the new investment partnership signals a change in ownership rather than a shift in the company’s identity. “Our team, strategy, and dedication to publishing premium indie titles remain unchanged,” Elliot said.

“For now, it’s business as usual,” Elliot continued, thanking TruFin for its invaluable partnership over the last seven years and for helping propel Playstack to this exciting new chapter.