Integrated Media Company (IMG) has acquired a majority stake in Playstack, the indie game publisher known for popular titles such as Balatro and The Case of the Golden Idol. The deal involves the sale of an 84.5% stake to IMG's subsidiary, VantageCo Limited, for £112.4 million (approximately $151 million). This acquisition values Playstack at around £125 million (about $169 million). Despite the ownership change, CEO Harvey Elliott reassured stakeholders that this transition represents a change in ownership rather than a shift in the company's core identity. IMG, which previously did not own any video game publishers, has a diverse portfolio that includes well-known brands such as Fandom, GameSpot, and Metacritic. The implications of this acquisition for Playstack's future, particularly regarding its flagship title Balatro, remain uncertain. Concerns have been raised about private equity firms' tendencies to prioritize profit maximization, which could potentially impact the creative direction of the games published by Playstack.