PlaySide Studios reported a net profit of AUD 5.4 million for the fiscal year ended June 2026, reversing a AUD 12.1 million loss in FY25, as its original IP franchise MOUSE: P.I. for Hire delivered strong commercial performance. Revenue rose 13% year-over-year to AUD 54.9 million, surpassing guidance of AUD 50-53 million, driven by a 108% surge in original IP revenue to AUD 34.7 million.
The company’s flagship title MOUSE: P.I. for Hire, launched in April 2026 across six platforms, generated over USD 30 million in gross sales from 1.1 million units sold, with a 94% positive rating on Steam and 3.3 million wishlists. The franchise contributed AUD 24 million to FY26 revenue, accounting for 44% of total sales. PlaySide’s original IP now represents 63% of revenue, up from 35% in FY25, as external projects revenue fell 37% to AUD 20.2 million.
PlaySide raised AUD 13.9 million net through a capital raising, share purchase plan, and debt facility, ending the year with AUD 15.4 million in cash. EBITDA improved to AUD 15.5 million from a AUD 7.5 million loss, while operating cash flow turned positive at AUD 10.7 million. Cost-saving measures implemented in April 2025 and June 2026 generated combined annualized savings of AUD 12 million, with an additional AUD 5 million expected in FY27.
The company’s headcount declined from 264 at the end of FY25 to 221 by June 2026, following 40 redundancies after losing the Meta Horizon Worlds contract. PlaySide consolidated its two Melbourne offices into a single Docklands location in September 2026 and launched Dumb Ways to Build, targeting the friendslop genre. A PC version of Game of Thrones: War for Westers is scheduled for early 2027, with a teaser trailer drawing over 15 million views after the House of the Dragon finale.
Chief Executive Benn Skender noted that while the loss of Horizon Worlds was a setback, rebuilding that pipeline remains a priority. The MOUSE franchise’s success has provided a foundation to balance work-for-hire projects with original IP development, he said. PlaySide’s share price traded at AUD 0.12, up 4.55%, near its 52-week low of AUD 0.11.
