PlaySide’s MOUSE Hits $10.4M in First Weekend, Sells 360,000 Units Globally
PlaySide Studios launches MOUSE: P.I. For Hire to record-breaking first weekend
PlaySide Studios has reported 360,000 units sold and US$10.4 million in gross sales during the opening weekend of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, the company’s highly anticipated original IP title. The game launched simultaneously across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on 17 April 2025, achieving #2 rankings on both Steam’s global best-sellers list and the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop.
The launch performance represents net sales to PlaySide of US$6.3 million after deducting platform fees, VAT and returns. Console sales contributed 44% of the unit mix, demonstrating broad market appeal beyond the PC gaming audience.
This marks a significant milestone for (ASX: PLY) as it validates the company’s strategy of developing owned intellectual property alongside its established work-for-hire services for major clients including Activision Blizzard, Meta, Netflix Games, and Take Two Interactive.
Management cautioned that the figures represent their best estimate as at 7am AEST on Monday 20 April, with each platform provider updating sales data at different intervals. The company emphasised that early-stage launch data may not indicate future sales performance or the title’s full lifecycle trajectory. No updated earnings guidance has been provided based on current data.
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What is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire?
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is an action-adventure game featuring a distinctive 1930s cartoon-inspired aesthetic that generated substantial pre-launch interest. The title is an original IP owned entirely by PlaySide, meaning the company retains long-term revenue rights rather than earning a one-time development fee typical of work-for-hire arrangements.
The game entered its launch weekend with 1.73 million wishlists accumulated across platforms during its development and marketing campaign. This wishlist base has since grown to 2.08 million, adding 350,000 wishlists post-launch, which provides an ongoing pipeline for sales conversion during future promotional periods.
Original IP ownership represents a strategic shift for PlaySide’s business model. Whilst the company maintains a portfolio of approximately 60 titles, many are developed under service contracts with external publishers. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire positions PlaySide to capture both initial sales revenue and potential long-term value from sequels, merchandise, or licensing arrangements.
Player and critical reception drives momentum
The game has achieved exceptional review scores across all major platforms, with Steam awarding it an Overwhelmingly Positive rating at 95% positive reviews. This is Steam’s highest rating tier, which triggers increased algorithmic visibility on the platform’s storefront. PlayStation Store users rated the title 4.92 out of 5.
| Platform/Metric | Score/Figure |
|---|---|
| Steam Rating | 95% (Overwhelmingly Positive) |
| PlayStation Store | 4.92/5 |
| OpenCritic | 83 (90th percentile) |
| Metacritic | 80 |
| Peak Twitch Viewership | 71,000 concurrent |
Critical aggregators have also responded positively, with OpenCritic placing the game in the 90th percentile of reviewed titles at a score of 83, whilst Metacritic reported a score of 80.
Community engagement has been substantial, with the game reaching a peak concurrent viewership of 71,000 viewers on Twitch across all streaming channels. This organic reach from content creators provides ongoing marketing exposure without direct advertising spend.
The growing wishlist base following launch is particularly significant for investors. Games typically convert wishlists to sales during promotional pricing events, meaning the additional 350,000 wishlists represent potential future revenue during seasonal sales periods or DLC releases.
Director commentary
Benn Skender, PlaySide Studios CEO
“We are incredibly satisfied with the initial performance of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, with early sales and player reception metrics tracking positively. We look forward to reporting on further data as it is received over the coming weeks.”
Publishing arrangement supports near-term cash flow
PlaySide’s publishing structure for MOUSE: P.I. For Hire prioritises the recovery of the company’s milestone payments, publishing and marketing costs from initial sales. This arrangement means early sales revenue flows more directly to PlaySide’s cash position compared to traditional revenue-share models where costs might be amortised over longer periods.
The revenue flow operates as follows:
- Initial sales revenue is collected from each platform
- Platform fees, VAT and returns are deducted (approximately 39% based on the difference between gross sales of US$10.4 million and net sales of US$6.3 million)
- PlaySide’s milestone payments, publishing and marketing costs are recovered first from remaining revenue
- Subsequent revenue flows through the standard publishing arrangement
This structure provides greater certainty around near-term cash recovery compared to deals where the developer receives a smaller percentage of gross sales from day one. The strong launch performance therefore has more immediate implications for PlaySide’s working capital position.
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What to watch for next
Whilst the opening weekend figures are encouraging, management has advised investors that early data may not indicate the game’s full lifecycle performance. Platform providers update sales data at different intervals, meaning final reconciled figures may vary from current estimates.
The company has explicitly stated it does not consider available data sufficiently reliable to support forecasting or updated earnings guidance at this stage. Further updates are expected in coming weeks as platform sales data is reconciled and longer-term sales trends become clearer.
Investors should note that MOUSE: P.I. For Hire represents one element of PlaySide’s broader business model. The company maintains a portfolio of approximately 60 titles and continues to service major clients including Activision Blizzard, Meta, Netflix Games, and Take Two Interactive through its work-for-hire division.
The ongoing sales trajectory will determine whether MOUSE becomes a material contributor to FY25 results. Key metrics to monitor include:
- Sustained sales volume beyond the launch window
- Conversion rates from the 2.08 million wishlist base during promotional periods
- Critical reception stability as review volumes increase
- Potential for DLC or expansion content to drive additional revenue
Single-title success diversifies PlaySide’s revenue away from reliance on work-for-hire contracts, potentially improving the company’s margin profile if original IP releases can be scaled across multiple titles. However, the company’s caution around data reliability and refusal to provide updated guidance suggests management is taking a measured approach to assessing whether this launch represents a repeatable formula or an outlier result.
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