Observed Signal · Sep 28, 2026 · M&A - Announced · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Trophy Games acquires Playrion from Paradox
Danish game developer Trophy Games has agreed to acquire French game developer Playrion from Paradox Interactive for an upfront cash consideration of €2.25 million ($2.6 million), marking the largest acquisition in Trophy Games' history. The deal includes potential earnouts over the next three years based on revenue, and is expected to close on September 30, 2026. Playrion specializes in aviation simulation and management games, including Airlines Manager and Airport Simulator: First Class, and has 30 employees generating around €4 million ($4.6 million) in annual revenue. Trophy Games plans to use Airport Simulator and its underlying technology as the foundation for a broader series of simulation games, building on its previous success with Airline Manager 4, which grew into a six-game transportation management series. Playrion will continue operating from its Paris studio, gaining access to Trophy Games' marketing, data, technology, and game development capabilities.
This acquisition is moderately important in the gaming industry, expanding Trophy Games' portfolio in simulation games, but it does not significantly impact the broader AdTech/AdTech ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Trophy Games agrees to acquire Playrion from Paradox for €2.25 million cash.
- Playrion has 30 employees and approximately €4 million annual revenue.
- Deal expected to close September 30, 2026, with potential earnouts over three years.
- Trophy Games plans to build a simulation series around Airport Simulator.
- Playrion will continue operating from Paris, gaining access to Trophy Games' capabilities.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Playrion from Paradox Interactive for an upfront cash consideration of €2.25 million.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Trophy Games Acquires Playrion from Paradox
Trophy Games, a Copenhagen-based mobile games developer, has agreed to acquire Playrion, the Paris-based studio behind Airlines Manager and Airport Simulator: First Class, from Paradox Interactive. The deal, expected to close on September 30, 2026, is Trophy Games' largest acquisition to date, with an upfront cash payment of €2.25 million ($2.6 million) and potential earnouts over the next three years. Playrion, which has about 30 employees and generates annual revenue of around €4 million ($4.6 million), will continue operating from its Paris studio. Trophy Games plans to leverage Airport Simulator's technology to build a new series of simulation games, a strategy Playrion used successfully with Airline Manager 4. The acquisition is funded from existing cash reserves. Following the deal, Trophy Games raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $25.9-27.4 million and EBITDA to $4.4-5.3 million.
Paradox Interactive Sells Playrion to Trophy Games
Paradox Interactive has sold Playrion to Trophy Games, as announced in a press release dated September 25, 2026. This is a significant corporate transaction involving the divestiture of a subsidiary.
Colossal Order CEO Discusses Paradox Split and New PC Simulation Game
Mariina Hallikainen, CEO of Colossal Order, discusses the studio's recent split from Paradox Interactive after 15 years and four games, including Cities: Skylines. The decision was driven by a desire to pursue new creative directions rather than continue the franchise for another decade. Colossal Order now has sufficient funding to self-publish, but remains open to partnerships based on collaboration and trust. The studio, known for simulation games, is developing a new PC simulation title, leveraging its 17 years of experience. Hallikainen also touches on challenges of hiring in Tampere, Finland, and offers advice to the Nordic games industry about targeting specific audiences.
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