Balatro Set for Acquisition by Private Equity Firm Behind GameSpot

Integrated Media Company, the parent entity behind various brands, is gearing up to acquire Playstack, known for publishing Balatro.

According to a notice shared on May 21, Trufin Holdings intends to sell 84.5 percent of its stake in Playstack to VantageCo Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Integrated Media Company, for around £112.4 million ($151 million). This acquisition is pending and requires approval from shareholders.

In a statement on Playstack’s website, CEO Harvey Elliott emphasized that despite the ownership change, “Our team, our strategy, and our commitment to publishing premium indie games remain exactly the same. For now, it’s business as usual.” Besides Balatro, Playstack also publishes several other titles, including The Case of the Golden Idol, The Rise of the Golden Idol, Ak-xolotl, Unbeatable, and About Fishing. The publisher reported a remarkable “hit ratio” of over 85 percent last year, indicating that more than 85 percent of its releases have yielded a positive return. Balatro itself has sold over five million copies as of January 2025 and has received numerous award nominations and wins, including accolades for Best Independent Game and Best Mobile Game at the 2024 Game Awards.

Integrated Media Company, owned by private equity firm TPG Inc., manages 15 different media and entertainment brands, including Fandom and Curse. VantageCo appears to be a newly formed subsidiary aimed at acquisitions, though its exact position within Integrated Media Company remains unclear.

In essence, the company that owns GameSpot is set to expand its portfolio to include a video game publisher, a trend we’ve seen before with other acquisitions in the industry.