People Can Fly Group Acquires Cooldown Games Brand, Publishing Rights, and Veteran Gearbox Publishing Team to Restore Its Global Publishing Vertical

On April 24, 2026, PCF Group S.A., operating as People Can Fly, announced the acquisition of the Cooldown Games brand and its publishing rights. The transaction includes the integration of veteran personnel from Gearbox Publishing, marking a strategic move to reestablish the company’s global publishing vertical under a self-publishing model.

Strategic Rationale Behind the Acquisition

The acquisition advances People Can Fly’s long-term strategy to strengthen its publishing activity by increasing margin participation across owned intellectual property. By bringing publishing functions in-house, the company aims to reduce reliance on third-party publishers and create a more capital-efficient revenue stream. This shift allows People Can Fly to retain greater control over the commercial lifecycle of its games, from development to distribution.

Operational Structure and Leadership Continuity

Under the new structure, Cooldown Games will operate as an independent publishing division within People Can Fly’s organizational framework. The existing leadership team at Cooldown Games will remain in place to ensure operational continuity, maintain disciplined greenlight processes, and sustain commercial execution. This approach preserves institutional knowledge and minimizes disruption during integration.

Leveraging Existing Infrastructure and Expertise

People Can Fly intends to leverage Cooldown Games’ established infrastructure, platform relationships, and commercial expertise to scale publishing revenues. The division will provide targeted support to internally developed titles while as well pursuing third-party publishing agreements to generate additional income streams. This dual focus supports both owned IP growth and diversification through external partnerships.

Support for Existing and Future Titles

The transaction provides growth capital and operational support to Cooldown Games’ existing slate of third-party titles. Multiple launches are planned across 2026 and 2027, backed by the enhanced resources and strategic direction of People Can Fly. This support aims to improve market performance and commercial outcomes for current and upcoming projects.

Company Profile and Industry Partnerships

People Can Fly operates internationally with a primary presence in Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The company employs over 400 staff members, referred to internally as “Aviators.” In addition to developing original intellectual property, People Can Fly provides development and co-development services under a work-for-hire model to major industry partners, including Microsoft, Krafton, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and 2K Games.

Conclusion

The acquisition of Cooldown Games represents a pivotal step in People Can Fly’s evolution toward a vertically integrated model that combines game development with in-house publishing. By retaining experienced leadership and utilizing existing publishing infrastructure, the company seeks to build a sustainable, scalable publishing operation that enhances profitability and long-term resilience in a competitive market.