Playstack, the publisher of Balatro, claims to have a "hit ratio" exceeding 85%

More than 85% of the titles published by the independent label Playstack yield a favorable return on investment from external development, as reported by its parent company TruFin.

In TruFin's annual report, highlighted by Game Developer, it was noted that all of Playstack's 2025 releases are projected to recoup their investments.

During 2025, Playstack generated £55.3 million in gross revenue, marking a 24% increase compared to the previous year, and accounting for 83.9% of TruFin’s total annual revenue. The company's net revenue reached £21.1 million, up 30% from the prior year, while its EBITDA increased by 20% to £13.5 million.

In terms of engagement, games under Playstack's label were downloaded over 20 million times and played for in excess of 150 million hours throughout the year.

TruFin noted that Playstack has achieved a more than 300% return on investment capital in its console portfolio. On Steam, the firm's titles have collectively generated over $100 million in lifetime earnings.

"Playstack is strategically positioned to continue this successful trend into 2026 and beyond," stated TruFin.

The report also disclosed Playstack's ambition to attain B Corp certification by 2030, highlighting its sustainability efforts and charitable engagements.

Additionally, last year, the company wrote off £1 million from a loan provided to the German studio Storm Chaser.

The indie card game Balatro, associated strongly with Playstack, premiered in February 2024. It achieved over $1 million in revenue within its first eight hours and sold one million copies within a month.

In a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott referred to Balatro as transformative for both the company and the gaming industry.

Elliott remarked that the success of captivating games, regardless of team size, demonstrates their potential to connect with audiences in innovative ways. He acknowledged that Balatro has bolstered the company's confidence and reaffirmed its strategic direction and game selection approach.