PlaySide Studios is an Australian video game developer and publisher based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. Launched in 2012, it is one of Australia's largest independent game developers, with games across mobile, PC, console, and virtual reality platforms. In December 2020, it became the first Australian-based game developer to list on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker .
History PlaySide was established by Gerry Sakkas, Aaron Pasias, and Mark Goulopoulos. Sakkas, a former designer at Visceral Games, founded the studio with a redundancy payment following the closure of the office in Melbourne. The company initially focused on mobile games and work-for-hire projects for major entertainment brands.
In 2021, PlaySide acquired the Dumb Ways to Die franchise for , leading to a resurgence of the brand on platforms like TikTok. In 2025, Benn Skender succeeded Sakkas as CEO after a restructure "triggered by delays in winning work-for-hire contracts".
Games and operations PlaySide operates through three divisions: Original IP, Work-for-Hire, and Publishing. It has developed games for clients including Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Activision Blizzard, and Meta.
A selection of titles developed or published by PlaySide include: Catch the Ark (2013) SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run (2015) AR Dragon (2017) Dumb Ways to Die series Age of Darkness: Final Stand (2021) Kill Knight (2024) Sid Meier's Civilization VII VR (Meta Quest version, 2025) Mouse: P.I. for Hire (2026)
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