Playstack
Playstack business and news from across the web.
PlayStation 5 Sequel to Sleeper Hit PS4 RPG Gets Release DateCold Symmetry and Playstack have announced that Mortal Shell 2, a sequel to the 2020 action RPG, will release on August 20, 2026, for PlayStation 5. The game will feature faster combat, deeper weapon design, and an emphasis on free exploration within a compact open world. It will be available in Standard and Devout Editions, with a retail "Revered Edition" also planned.
'Balatro' Plays Winning Hand at GDCA 2025, Receiving Game of the YearBalatro, the indie roguelike deckbuilder from solo developer LocalThunk, won Game of the Year at the 25th annual Game Developers Choice Awards. The game also secured wins for Best Debut, Best Design, and the Innovation Award. Other notable winners included Astro Bot for Best Audio and Best Technology, and Sam Lake received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 10 best games I played during Steam Next Fest: June 2026 editionThis article highlights ten notable games showcased during the June 2026 Steam Next Fest, featuring a diverse range of indie titles. Despite the overwhelming number of demos, the author found several promising games, including Moss: The Forgotten Relic, FISH, and GEPPY-X, maintaining optimism for the future of gaming.
Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike announced for Nintendo Switch 2Playstack and Doraccoon have announced Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike, a roguelike deckbuilder that combines coin pusher mechanics with strategic item usage. The game is planned for a fall release on consoles, including the Nintendo Switch 2. Players can expect to discover unique coins and items to create powerful combos and utilize different characters with distinct playstyles.
Unbeatable confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, will have a physical releaseUnbeatable, an anime-inspired rhythm adventure game, is confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch 2. Publisher Playstack and developer D-Cell Games announced the upcoming title, which will also receive a physical release produced by iam8bit. The game features rhythm-based gameplay, story mode, and an arcade mode with unlockable content.
Mortal Shell 2 deconstructs the mechanics of Soulslikes even more effectively than its predecessorMortal Shell 2 effectively deconstructs Soulslike mechanics, building upon its predecessor's foundation with evolved systems like the 'hardening' mechanic now tied to equippable Seals. The game offers significant build variety through these Seals, addressing the rigid character archetypes of the original. While the beta shows promise, some technical polish and clarity issues remain, but fans of the genre should keep an eye on its development.
Playstack CEO pledges to be 'mindful' about growth after majority takeoverUK publisher Playstack has been acquired by Integrated Media Company (IMC), which purchased an 84.5 percent stake from previous owner TruFin for approximately £125 million. Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott stated that the company's operational model will remain largely unchanged, with IMC and its parent company Texas Pacific Group supporting Playstack's growth plans. Elliott also indicated that studio acquisitions are a possibility for future expansion.
Playstack sold, Xbox announces business 'reset,' and is generative AI poisoning the well? - Patch Notes #56Playstack has been sold to Integrated Media Company, with TruFin divesting its majority stake. Xbox announced a business 'reset' involving potential layoffs and studio closures, as confirmed by leaders Asha Sharma and Matt Booty. Concerns are also rising about generative AI's impact on the industry, with Take-Two's former head of AI, Luke Dicken, expressing worries about the current hype cycle.
Playstack CEO: new owner will keep it separate from its games media brands including GamesSpot and FandomPlaystack, the publisher behind games like Balatro and Abiotic Factor, has been acquired by Integrated Media Company (IMC), the owner of Fandom and GameSpot. CEO Harvey Elliott stated that Playstack will remain a separate entity and continue its strategy as a "variety publisher" with a commitment to an eclectic lineup through 2028. The new ownership structure is expected to provide scale without operational integration, ensuring no staff changes and continued respect for Playstack's creative decisions.
The Mortal Shell 2 open beta was downloaded 250,000 times over the weekendThe open beta for Mortal Shell 2, the sequel to the 2020 action RPG, saw 250,000 downloads over the weekend. Developer Cold Symmetry expressed gratitude for the strong response and is implementing player feedback into the full release, which is planned for later this year. The beta is currently available on Steam.- Star Trek: Outposts Unknown AnnouncedMagic Fuel Games and Playstack have announced Star Trek: Outposts Unknown, a new outpost building simulation game. The game focuses on the Federation's infrastructure management and is set to release in the same timeframe as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
This Is the Most Intriguing and Unsettling Game About Fishing Coming to PS5Playstack and The Water Museum have released a new trailer for the upcoming PlayStation 5 adventure game, About Fishing. The game blends the meditative rhythm of fishing with a quiet mystery, featuring retro visuals and hinting at uneasy truths to be discovered beneath the surface.
Star Trek: Outposts Unknown's demo introduces an upbeat settlement builder, though my crew of clocking-out ship slackers wouldn't last a day in RimWorldThe demo for Star Trek: Outposts Unknown offers a cheerful take on the settlement builder genre, where players assist an alien civilization rather than merely surviving. Unlike typical colony sims, the game features a Starfleet mothership providing support and a place for crew to rest, though managing resources and crew morale remains crucial. The preview notes that while the game is more relaxed, it still requires strategic planning to avoid idle periods and ensure progress.
If you've ever wanted to play Geoguessr with a narrative twist, Locator: The Search for Abigail is what you've…Locator: The Search for Abigail is a Geoguessr-inspired detective game where players search for a missing archaeologist on an alien planet. The game, developed by Empty Exhibit and published by Playstack, features a narrative twist on location-based guessing mechanics and was recently shown at the PC Gaming Show with updated visuals.
Star Trek: Outposts Unknown announcedPublisher Playstack and developer Magic Fuel Games have announced Star Trek: Outposts Unknown, a new builder and management game set in the Star Trek universe. The game is in development for Windows PC and is scheduled for release later this year. Players will lead their crew across new worlds, researching, exploring, and building outposts while facing a mysterious cosmic force.- Mortal Shell II Open BetaCold Symmetry and Playstack have launched an open beta for Mortal Shell II, the sequel to the soulslike action RPG. The beta is available now for Windows on Steam, allowing interested players to test the game.
How to watch the PC Gaming Show 2026, including Exodus extended gameplay reveal highlightsThe PC Gaming Show 2026 will air on June 7, featuring over 50 games, including extended gameplay highlights from Exodus. Hosted by Sean "Day[9]" Plott and Mica Burton, with a pre-show hosted by Frankie Ward, the event will showcase world premieres from numerous developers and publishers. The broadcast will be available on multiple platforms including Twitch, YouTube, and Steam.
Backrooms to triple previous A24 opening weekend record at $85+ millionThe film adaptation of the internet meme 'Backrooms' has achieved a massive opening weekend, grossing an estimated $85-$88 million, significantly surpassing A24's previous record holder, 'Civil War'. The film's success is noted for its connection to online gaming culture, with director Kane Parsons dreaming in 'Portals' and the film's environments appearing in games like 'Straftat' and 'Roblox'.- A private equity company has acquired Balatro publisher, PlaystackIntegrated Media Company, which also owns Fandom, GameSpot, and Metacritic, has acquired Playstack, the publisher of the popular game Balatro. This acquisition marks a significant move in the gaming industry's business landscape.
Balatro publisher Playstack only discovered it because they had a guy checking all the new releases on Steam every day:…Playstack's head of discovery, Patrick Johnson, explained that the publisher found the hit indie game Balatro by manually checking new Steam releases daily. Despite Balatro having few wishlists initially, Playstack recognized its potential and reached out to developer LocalThunk. The article also mentions Playstack is in the process of being acquired by Integrated Media Company for $151 million.