The move strengthens the previous partnership between the two companies, in which Kalypso Media owned 60% of shares following the insolvency of previous publisher Ascaron Entertainment and the foundation of the studio in 2009 by Ascaron veterans Daniel Dumont and Kay Struve. Together, Kalypso Media and Gaming Minds Studios then produced several well-known titles together, including Patrician IV, Port Royale 3, Grand Ages: Medieval and Railway Empire. 

The remaining 40% shares have now been acquired by Kalypso Media retroactively from January 2020, with Daniel Dumont and Kay Struve remaining as Studio Heads of Gaming Minds Studios for the long-term future.

"The complete takeover of Gaming Minds is a logical result of our strategy to expand our own development resources not only in Germany, but also internationally" says Simon Hellwig, owner and Global Managing Director of Kalypso Media. "We are offering the highly qualified and motivated team in Gütersloh the opportunity to focus exclusively on the further development of exciting franchises such as Railway Empire and Port Royale and to establish their own engine even more strongly within the rest of the Kalypso Media Group."

Daniel Dumont, Studio Head at Gaming Minds Studios said, "Above all, we want to develop great simulation and strategy games on all platforms that players will love to play for years to come."

"It is a great relief to us that we have had a strong, secure publishing partner in Kalypso for over 10 years, who have always supported us fully and share in our philosophy for the studio." adds Kay Struve, Studio Head at Gaming Minds Studios.

Gaming Minds Studios is currently working on the finalization of the long-awaited trading simulation Port Royale 4 for PC, Xbox One, PS4 in Fall 2020 and on Nintendo Switch in Q1 2021.

The PC beta is can be played now and is available exclusively on the Kalypso Store.