Full Breakdown
People Can Fly Acquires Cooldown Games to Launch Publishing Division
4/28/2026, 2:43:41 AM
Acquisition Overview
Polish developer People Can Fly announced the acquisition of Dallas-based Cooldown Games for an undisclosed sum. The 2024 deal integrates Cooldown into People Can Fly’s organization and creates a dedicated publishing vertical.
Strategic Background
The two studios previously partnered on *Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition*. Earlier in 2024, People Can Fly paused development on Project Gemini and Bitfrost after a dispute with an unnamed publisher, highlighting the need for greater control over commercial outcomes and prompting the move toward in-house publishing.
Key Executives & Companies
- People Can Fly – Warsaw-based studio; CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski.
- Cooldown Games – Founded in Dallas in 2024 by veterans of Gearbox, Id Software and Warner; CEO Steve Gibson, former president of Gearbox Publishing.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- June (year unspecified) – People Can Fly halts development on Project Gemini and Bitfrost, reduces staff.
- 2024 – Cooldown Games launches, founded by industry veterans.
- 2024 – People Can Fly completes acquisition of Cooldown Games.
- 2026-2027 – Planned releases of Cooldown’s third-party titles under the new publishing arm.
Financial & Operational Details
The acquisition price remains private. People Can Fly will provide growth capital and operational support for Cooldown’s existing third-party projects and its slated 2026-2027 launches. The publishing unit is designed to generate recurring revenue from third-party titles while enabling future mergers, acquisitions, and IP-monetisation initiatives.
Official Statements & Responses
Sebastian Wojciechowski emphasized that the deal arrived earlier than anticipated but rests on long-standing trust in Cooldown’s team and a revenue-first publishing model. He added that the integration strengthens People Can Fly’s ability to bring games to market globally and capture greater value across a title’s lifecycle. Steve Gibson highlighted Cooldown’s focus on championing developers and noted that joining People Can Fly provides the scale, resources, and stability needed to elevate that mission.
Criticism & Operational Challenges
Observers note that People Can Fly’s earlier project pauses exposed reliance on external publishers, suggesting the acquisition seeks to reduce such dependence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both sources confirm that the financial terms of the acquisition are undisclosed, leaving the exact valuation unknown. No details were given about which Cooldown titles will launch first or the precise timeline for the publishing unit’s activation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While this is happening somewhat earlier than we originally anticipated, it is based on two key pillars: the trust in the Cooldown Games team built over the years, and an approach in which the publishing segment is intended to be revenue-generating from the outset, rather than cost-intensive,” — Sebastian Wojciechowski, CEO, People Can Fly
- “Bringing the Cooldown Games team into the organisation allows us to build on the publishing foundation we've been developing for years while strengthening our ability to take great games to market globally.” — Sebastian Wojciechowski, CEO, People Can Fly
- “ Cooldown Games CEO Steve Gibson added: "We've built Cooldown Games around championing exceptional developers and bringing their games to players around the world.” — Steve Gibson, CEO, Cooldown Games
- “Joining People Can Fly gives us the scale, resources, and long-term stability to do that at an even higher level.” — Steve Gibson, CEO, Cooldown Games
Future Outlook
People Can Fly will support Cooldown’s upcoming 2026-2027 releases while maintaining collaborations with Krafton (*Xeno Point*), Sony Interactive Entertainment (*Project Delta*), and Xbox Game Studios (*Gears of War: E-Day*). The new publishing arm is expected to generate steady revenue and lay groundwork for further acquisitions and IP-monetisation initiatives.
