Updated Mar 17, 2026 by PlayWay
Legal · May 21, 2018
Published by PlayWay
The management of PlayWay S.A. has formally concluded a settlement agreement with United Independent Entertainment GmbH, Toplitz Productions GmbH, Simfabric Sp. z o.o., and several natural persons to resolve all outstanding legal disputes between the parties. This agreement primarily addresses conflicts surrounding the title Farm Manager 2018, which had previously been the subject of regulatory filings in April and May of 2018. The settlement represents a definitive end to litigation and disagreements involving these specific industry entities and their respective intellectual properties. A critical component of the agreement involves a mutual commitment to refrain from using DMCA Takedown Notice procedures against one another. This provision is specifically designed to prevent any future restrictions on the accessibility of the parties' games on the Steam platform. By removing the threat of administrative copyright strikes, the entities aim to ensure that their software remains available to consumers without the disruption of platform-level delistings or legal challenges to distribution rights. The strategic objective of this settlement is to foster a stable environment for the global development of the computer games market. The parties have declared a shared priority of conducting business in a fair, lawful, and undisturbed manner. This resolution, issued under the legal framework of the Market Abuse Regulation regarding inside information, effectively stabilizes the commercial outlook for Farm Manager 2018 and other titles within the portfolios of the involved Polish and German development and publishing firms.
Raport bieżący nr 29/2018 Data: 2018-05-21 godz. 21:09 Informacja o zawarciu porozumienia (ugody) dot. m.in. gry Farm Manager 2018 Zarząd PLAYWAY S.A. z siedzibą w Warszawie („Spółka”) w nawiązaniu do raportów bieżących nr 20/2018 z dnia 19 kwietnia br. oraz nr 24/2018 z dnia 5 maja br. informuje, że w dniu dzisiejszym pomiędzy Spółką a United Independent Entertainment GmbH z siedzibą w Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn, Toplitz Productions Gmbh z siedzibą w Irdning, Simfabric Sp. z o.o. z siedzibą w Warszawie oraz osobami fizycznymi (łącznie jako „Strony”) zostało zawarte porozumienie (ugoda) zgodnie z którym Strony polubownie zakończyły wszelkie spory wynikłe pomiędzy Stronami dot. gier komputerowych, w tym gry Farm Manager 2018. Jednocześnie Strony zobowiązały się do niewykorzystywania procedury DMCA Takedown Notice do jakiegokolwiek ograniczania dostępu do gier Stron na platformie STEAM. Strony zgodnie oświadczyły, że ich priorytetem jest wspieranie rozwoju rynku gier komputerowych na świecie i umożliwienie wszystkim Stronom niezakłóconego, rzetelnego i zgodnego z przepisami prawa prowadzenia działalności gospodarczej. Podstawa prawna: Art. 17 ust. 1 MAR - informacje poufne ZA ZARZĄD: Krzysztof Kostowski Prezes Zarządu
PlayWay S.A. faces a significant legal challenge regarding the distribution of its title Farm Manager 2018 following a formal claim submitted to Valve Corporation. The dispute was initiated by United Independent Entertainment GmbH (UIG), which alleges that the game’s distribution violates a pre-existing agreement established between the two companies in May 2013. This conflict stems from long-standing intellectual property issues previously disclosed in the company’s prospectus, highlighting a recurring legal friction between the parties involved. As a direct consequence of the claim and in accordance with standard platform procedures, Valve Corporation has removed Farm Manager 2018 from the Steam store pending a detailed investigation. This suspension of sales represents a critical operational disruption for the title shortly after its release. The geographic scope of this action is global, as it affects the primary digital storefront for PC gaming, potentially impacting the company's short-term revenue projections and market positioning within the simulation genre. The management of PlayWay S.A. maintains that the distribution of the game does not infringe upon any third-party rights or copyright laws. The company has expressed its intent to pursue all necessary legal avenues to protect its interests and restore the game to the marketplace. This situation underscores the complexities of intellectual property management and contractual compliance within the international gaming industry, particularly regarding digital distribution rights and platform-enforced dispute resolution mechanisms.
PlayWay S.A. has formally addressed a civil lawsuit filed by United Independent Entertainment GmbH (UIG) in a Munich court regarding the release of the title Farm Manager 2018. The legal challenge, communicated via Valve Corporation, alleges that PlayWay breached a contractual obligation prohibiting the development of farming-themed games. This dispute centers on the interpretation of a 2013 agreement and its subsequent impact on the distribution of titles within the farming simulation and management genres on the Steam platform. The executive leadership at PlayWay maintains that the lawsuit is entirely without merit, citing several key factual and legal defenses. Primarily, the company asserts that the 2013 agreement referenced by UIG was effectively terminated in March 2015, more than three years prior to the current dispute. Furthermore, PlayWay clarifies that it is not the developer of Farm Manager 2018; the title was created by Cleversan Software Sp. z o.o., an entity that does not belong to the PlayWay capital group. The company also emphasizes a distinct generic difference between the products, noting that Farm Manager 2018 is a city-builder management game, which differs significantly from the first-person farming simulators typically associated with UIG. In response to the litigation and its potential impact on commercial operations, PlayWay is initiating legal measures to protect its corporate interests. This strategy includes seeking compensation from UIG for lost revenue and damages to the company's reputation resulting from the claim. The situation highlights the complexities of intellectual property and non-compete clauses within the global digital distribution landscape, specifically concerning the Polish and German gaming markets during the 2018 fiscal period.
PlayWay S.A. reports significant commercial success for the title Farm Manager 2018 following its global debut on the Steam platform. Released on April 6, 2018, the game achieved full recoupment of its production and marketing expenditures within the first twenty-four hours of availability. This rapid return on investment highlights the title's immediate financial viability and strong market reception during its initial launch window. Sales performance data indicates that the title sold over 20,000 units within the first 48 hours of release. The game maintained a high level of visibility on the Steam Global Bestsellers list, peaking at the third position on its launch day. Throughout the second day of sales, the title fluctuated between the fourth and twelfth positions, eventually stabilizing at the seventh spot by the time of the performance disclosure. The scope of these findings focuses specifically on digital distribution via the Steam storefront during the period from April 6 to April 8, 2018. The data provided is based on internal estimates and real-time platform rankings. This performance underscores the effectiveness of the developer's production and promotional strategies within the simulation genre, establishing a solid foundation for the game's long-term lifecycle on the global PC gaming market.
PlayWay S.A. has entered into a strategic distribution agreement with Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited to facilitate the entry of its gaming portfolio into the Chinese market. This partnership establishes a formal channel for the Polish developer and publisher to leverage Tencent’s extensive distribution infrastructure within one of the world’s largest gaming territories. The agreement signifies a targeted expansion effort by PlayWay to capitalize on the growing demand for simulation and niche titles among Chinese consumers. The initial phase of this collaboration focuses on the release of Demolish & Build 2018, which will serve as the debut title under the new arrangement. While the contract confirms the intent to bring this specific game to market, the precise release date remains subject to future determination. This phased approach allows both parties to coordinate marketing and localization efforts before committing to a commercial launch window. This development reflects a broader industry trend of Western publishers seeking established local partners to navigate the complex regulatory and logistical landscape of the Chinese gaming industry. By aligning with a dominant market player like Tencent, PlayWay aims to maximize its commercial reach and operational efficiency in the region. The agreement, finalized in July 2018, marks a significant milestone in the company’s international growth strategy and its efforts to diversify its revenue streams across global geographic segments.