A fresh entrant in the video‑game publishing arena, PUBLSH, has been launched by a team of former executives from the marketing firm Petrol. The company’s inaugural release is an episodic detective adventure called Pera Coda, a title that draws clear inspiration from the critically acclaimed Disco Elysium.
The game is being built by the Turkish development house Elyzio, working in conjunction with its internal studio unit, Falan Studio. Based out of California, PUBLSH was co‑founded in 2025 by chief executive Ben Granados and chief strategy officer Samuel Clarke. Granados brings to the venture a robust background in the gaming sector, having previously co‑founded Petrol, an agency that has partnered with a roster of heavyweight publishers and IP owners such as Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, CD Projekt, Epic Games, Game Science, Krafton, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Tencent. This network of relationships provides PUBLSH with a deep well of industry insight and contacts.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Clarke explained that the founders recognized a gap in the market for a publishing model that blends the strategic rigor of a traditional publisher with the agility and collaborative spirit of an advertising agency. "We saw an opportunity to deliver experienced, collaborative, and flexible support to developers," he said, adding that PUBLSH plans to back projects not only with expertise but also with direct capital investments and bespoke financing structures tailored to each studio’s needs. At present, the venture is financed by its own founders, but Clarke indicated that the team is open to welcoming a select group of external investors who share the company’s long‑term vision. "We are considering bringing in a small cohort of investors who align with our philosophy and want to help us build something sustainable," he noted.
The core philosophy of PUBLSH, as articulated by Clarke, is to provide "publisher‑level leadership without publisher‑level control." In practice, this means the company will act as a strategic partner rather than a controlling stakeholder, embedding itself deeply within the development teams it works with while allowing those teams to retain creative autonomy. "We are deliberately selective, highly collaborative, and deeply embedded with the teams we partner with," Clarke emphasized.
PUBLSH’s internal talent pool spans a wide range of disciplines, including product and portfolio strategy, business development, financing, platform negotiations, and distribution channels. The team also boasts expertise in audience development, marketing, communications, and go‑to‑market execution, giving it the ability to support a game from concept through launch and beyond. Looking ahead, Clarke disclosed that PUBLSH intends to publish roughly four to five titles each year, a deliberately modest slate designed to ensure that each partner receives substantial attention and resources.
The company will target projects whose development budgets stay under the $20 million threshold, allowing PUBLSH to maintain operational flexibility and invest meaningfully in each studio. "We want enough operational space to invest deeply in every studio we partner with," Clarke said. "We’d rather add high value to five development partners and games than be one of twenty partners on twenty games." Pera Coda, the first game under the PUBLSH banner, is slated for a PC release in 2027. It combines classic point‑and‑click investigative mechanics with a focus on psychological storytelling, aiming to immerse players in a richly atmospheric world where choices and internal dialogue shape the narrative experience.
Granados praised the title’s distinct voice, noting that the team evaluated numerous potential launch titles before selecting Pera Coda for its unique blend of mood and narrative depth. "We looked at a lot of great games to lean into with our new approach to publishing, and Pera Coda stood out to us immediately for having a voice of its own," he explained.
Granados also highlighted Elyzio’s contribution, describing the studio’s work as both atmospheric and compelling. "Elyzio has created a game that is atmospheric and intriguing, with storytelling that just felt fresh and compelling to us.
We knew we wanted to work with this team and help bring their unique vision to players around the world," he said. In summary, PUBLSH positions itself as a boutique, developer‑centric publisher that prioritizes deep collaboration, strategic guidance, and flexible financing over the traditional top‑down control model. By keeping its portfolio small and focusing on titles with budgets under $20 million, the company hopes to nurture a handful of high‑quality experiences each year, starting with the ambitious, Disco Elysium‑inspired Pera Coda. The launch of PUBLSH marks a noteworthy addition to the publishing landscape, offering an alternative pathway for indie and mid‑size studios seeking both creative freedom and robust industry support.