This is the largest acquisition in Trophy Games' history and will form the foundation for a new series of simulation games. At the same time, the company is raising its revenue expectations for the year to €22.8-€24.1 million .
With the acquisition of French Playrion, Trophy Games gains 30 new employees and a new foundation for future growth.
"This is a milestone for Trophy Games. We have had Playrion on our radar for four years. They have been one of our biggest competitors, and we know the company, the games, and the market really well. Therefore, we see a very strong strategic match," says Søren Gleie, founder and CEO of Trophy Games.
Playrion is the developer behind the games Airlines Manager and Airport Simulator: First Class and specializes in aviation simulation and management games. However, for Trophy Games, the greatest potential lies in what has not yet been built.
The plan is to use Airport Simulator as the foundation for an entirely new series of simulation games. It is a model the company has had great success with before. In 2021, Trophy Games acquired Airline Manager 4. The game became the starting point for a series that today counts six transport management games and has been a major driver behind Trophy Games’ growth.
"By now, we have a recipe for how we can take a game that has already proven there is a market and build an entire series around it. We did that with Airline Manager, and that is the opportunity we now see in Airport Simulator. If we succeed in repeating the model, Playrion can become an entirely new growth pillar for Trophy Games," says Søren Gleie.
The acquisition marks a new phase for Trophy Games, where larger acquisitions will help drive growth alongside the company's own games. Trophy Games has six new games on the way in the coming year - more than ever before.
The acquisition of Playrion is financed through internal funds, and capital will remain available for further acquisitions, which are part of the company's growth strategy. At the half-year report, Trophy Games had €8.9 million in cash and no interest-bearing debt.
"We are in a very good position for further growth. We have more than quadrupled our revenue in five years, have six new games on the way, and now have the capital to also make larger acquisitions. Playrion is our largest acquisition so far and another step in the growth strategy we have laid out," says Søren Gleie.
Playrion will continue as an independent company in Paris with its current 30 employees. The French team will gain access to Trophy Games’ expertise, technology, and capital.
"We are not buying Playrion to change them. A very talented team comes with them that has built some strong products. Our job is to give them more opportunities while bringing the best of Trophy Games into play. We approach this with great respect and humility," says Søren Gleie.
In the short term, Trophy Games also sees opportunities to boost earnings from Playrion's existing games, among other things through more effective marketing.
With the acquisition, Trophy Games is upgrading its outlook for 2026. Revenue is now expected to land at €22.8-€24.1 million, compared to the previous €20.1-€22.4 million. The upgrade is driven by both the acquisition of Playrion, which will contribute for a full quarter, and continued strong performance in the company's existing games.