Why we invested in Playtron, the company bringing the entirety of the PC gaming experience to mobile
The gaming industry is undergoing a significant shift, transitioning from an emphasis on hardware to a prioritization of software. Departing from the nine generations of “console wars” that previously confined players to specific ecosystems, the industry is now concentrating on selling games independently of the platform. This departure from the exclusive game-driven hardware sales model is due to several factors, including market saturation and the diminishing advantage of consoles in comparison to affordable PCs. At the same time, the industry’s embrace of cross-platform play aligns with gamers’ desire for a more interconnected experience. This shift toward an open and platform-agnostic future holds the promise of offering gamers more choices, potential price reductions, and cultivating a more connected gaming community.
But this model typically requires gamers be tethered to their in-home gaming PCs since hardware limitations have prevented AAA games from running on mobile devices. Enter Playtron and its mission to bring every game to everyone, everywhere. Playtron devices are powered by its Linux-based PlaytronOS operating system that can run on any device with the required hardware specs. Importantly, Playtron offers an adequate balance of power with both a small form factor and affordability for mass consumers to be able to run PC and console games on-the-go. Additionally, Playtron eliminates the restrictions of a single-store locked game console while offering console-like simplicity to gamers around the world.
We invested in Playtron because we believe there is no better example of a company that is harnessing mobile gaming hardware, a Linux-based operating system, and an open ecosystem to enable new entrants to participate in gaming economics previously controlled by major video game console brands and walled garden app stores. A key differentiating factor is that PlaytronOS is capable of running many AAA PC games without modification, including former PlayStation exclusives such as God of War, The Last of Us, Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank. Drawing inspiration from successful models and form factors like the Valve Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, Playtron aims to redefine the gaming landscape, offering a unique and inclusive gaming experience that puts the player at the center of the future of gaming. The OS is complemented by a revenue-share-based game store and SDK for developers.
In addition to the market potential, we are excited to back the experienced team behind Playtron. CEO Kirt McMaster leads the team, and previously founded Boost Mobile, recently acquired by DISH for $1.4B, and former unicorn Cyanogen, an open source MobileOs that shipped on millions of devices. Chairman John Lagerling, is the CEO of Mercari US and previously led Android business development at Google and was the VP of product partnerships at Facebook where he ran business development for the company’s full portfolio including the Facebook app, Messenger, Instagram and Oculus VR. Rounding out the trio is CTO Franck De Girolami, a creator of Alone in the Dark, the game that started the survival horror genre, who brings extensive gaming knowledge and software development experience through his previous work with major players like Activision and Tencent.
The global video game market is $180B, larger than sports and movies combined. By operating at the intersection of mobile games, PC games, and console games markets, Playtron is poised to capture not only value, but also player engagement, all while pushing the boundaries of gaming innovation. We are excited to back Playtron as they come out of stealth, and are confident that the company’s developer-friendly open source operating system will help them become a principal player in the gaming market.
Carlos Castellanos is an investor at Samsung Next. Samsung Next’s investment strategy is limited to its own views and does not reflect the vision or strategy of any other Samsung business unit, including, but not limited to, Samsung Electronics.