Company:PlaySide Studios
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| ASX: PLY | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 2012 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Port Melbourne, Victoria , Australia |
Key people | Benn Skender (CEO) |
| Products | Video games |
 A$−12.1 million[1] (2025) | |
Number of employees | 261[1] (2026) |
| Website | www |
PlaySide Studios is an Australian video game developer and publisher based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Launched in 2012, it is one of Australia's largest independent game developers, with games across mobile, PC, console, and virtual reality platforms.[2][3] In December 2020, it became the first Australian-based game developer to list on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX: PLY.[4]
History
PlaySide was established by Gerry Sakkas, Aaron Pasias, and Mark Goulopoulos.[4] Sakkas, a former designer at Visceral Games, founded the studio with a redundancy payment following the closure of the office in Melbourne.[5] The company initially focused on mobile games and work-for-hire projects for major entertainment brands.
In 2021, PlaySide acquired the Dumb Ways to Die franchise for A$2.25 million, leading to a resurgence of the brand on platforms like TikTok.[6] In 2025, Benn Skender succeeded Sakkas as CEO after a restructure "triggered by delays in winning work-for-hire contracts".[7]
Games and operations
PlaySide operates through three divisions: Original IP, Work-for-Hire, and Publishing. It has developed games for clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Activision Blizzard, and Meta.[4][2]
A selection of titles developed or published by PlaySide include:
- Catch the Ark[8] (2013)
- SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run[9] (2015)
- AR Dragon (2017)
- Dumb Ways to Die series [10]
- Age of Darkness: Final Stand[11] (2021)
- Kill Knight[12] (2024)
- Sid Meier's Civilization VII VR[13] (Meta Quest version, 2025)
- Software:Mouse: P.I. for Hire[14] (2026)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named1HFY26_Presentation - ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Investor Centre". PlaySide Studios. https://investor.playsidestudios.com/.
- ↑ "Largest Australian Video Game Companies by Revenue". https://bullfincher.io/ranking/top-video-game-companies-in-australia-by-revenue.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Gillezeau, Natasha (6 December 2020). "Melbourne video game producer to make ASX history". Australian Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/technology/melbourne-video-game-producer-to-make-asx-history-20201202-p56k04.
- ↑ DeLoria, Elizabeth (14 December 2011). "When EA Gives You Lemons, Start a New Studio". Gameranx. https://gameranx.com/updates/id/4091/article/when-ea-gives-you-lemons-start-a-new-studio/.
- ↑ Watson, Meg (17 February 2023). "A Melbourne train safety jingle became a global hit. Now it's going viral again". The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/culture/music/a-melbourne-train-safety-jingle-became-a-global-hit-now-it-s-going-viral-again-20230216-p5cl1h.html.
- ↑ Argüello, Diego; Kerr, Chris (3 April 2025). "Australian company PlaySide Studios has laid off workers in restructuring". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/australian-company-playside-studios-has-laid-off-workers-in-restructuring-.
- ↑ "Catch the Ark". https://www.mobygames.com/game/252398/catch-the-ark/.
- ↑ "SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run". https://www.mobygames.com/game/252454/spongebob-sponge-on-the-run/.
- ↑ "Dumb Ways series". https://www.mobygames.com/group/11071/dumb-ways-series/.
- ↑ "Age of Darkness: Final Stand". https://www.mobygames.com/game/173645/age-of-darkness-final-stand/.
- ↑ "Kill Knight". https://www.mobygames.com/game/231441/kill-knight/.
- ↑ "Sid Meier's Civilization VII: VR". https://www.mobygames.com/game/237152/sid-meiers-civilization-vii/.
- ↑ "Mouse: P.I. for Hire". https://www.mobygames.com/game/255218/mouse-pi-for-hire/.
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