PlayWay S.A. acquired a 44% plurality stake in the Czeladź-based studio Baked Games for 199,000 PLN.
The investment was executed through the subscription of new shares in Baked Games' increased share capital, as disclosed in May 2018.
Following the transaction, the remaining equity is held by three partners, with two holding 27.5% each and one holding 1%.
The partnership aims to fund the production of PC-focused video games, specifically prioritizing the development of the title Prison Simulator.
This acquisition reflects PlayWay's strategy of securing intellectual property in the simulation genre by taking minority equity stakes in specialized indie studios.
The deal highlights a period of relatively low entry costs for major publishers to integrate emerging European development teams into their corporate ecosystems.
PlayWay S.A. has formalized a strategic investment in the Czeladź-based development studio Baked Games through a newly executed investment agreement. This transaction involves the Warsaw-listed publisher acquiring a significant equity stake by subscribing to new shares in the developer’s increased share capital for a total consideration of 199,000 PLN. The agreement establishes a restructured ownership framework where PlayWay holds a 44% plurality stake, while the founding partners retain the remaining interest, specifically 27.5% each for two primary partners and 1% for a third associate.
The primary objective of this partnership is to facilitate the ongoing and future production of video games, with a specific focus on the PC platform. A central component of the studio’s current pipeline is the development of a title tentatively named Prison Simulator. This investment aligns with the broader industry trend of major publishers securing equity in specialized indie studios to diversify their portfolios and secure intellectual property rights for simulation-style titles.
This corporate action, disclosed in May 2018 under market abuse regulations, marks a geographic expansion of PlayWay’s internal ecosystem within the Polish development sector. By integrating Baked Games into its group, PlayWay provides the necessary capital for production while the studio maintains its operational focus on the simulator genre. The transaction highlights the relatively low entry costs for strategic minority stakes in emerging European development teams during this period.
