Reforged Studios has announced it has acquired German indie game publisher Headup, bringing a well-known lineup of indie hits into Reforged’s growing portfolio. While the companies did not share financial details of the deal, the move places popular titles such as Bridge Constructor, Pumpkin Jack, and Super Meat Boy 3D under the Reforged umbrella.
The acquisition is positioned as a growth and support play rather than a shake-up. Headup will continue operating as it has—focused on publishing and supporting standout independent games—now backed by Reforged’s broader network, resources, and industry expertise. Just as importantly for developers and fans, the Headup team will remain intact, with no layoffs or redundancies tied to the transition.
Reforged CEO Peter van der Watt praised Headup’s track record in indie game publishing, highlighting the company’s carefully curated catalog and developer-first approach. He described the purchase as a way to strengthen Reforged’s publishing platform and speed up its long-term growth plans, emphasizing that the goal isn’t consolidation for its own sake. Instead, Reforged says it wants to create a stable, lasting home for ambitious indie creators looking for a publisher that supports creative vision and sustainable success.
Headup founder Dieter Schoeller echoed that sentiment, saying the decision wasn’t about chasing scale, but about finding the right fit. According to Schoeller, Reforged’s team understands games at a fundamental level, and that alignment creates room for Headup to grow while preserving what made the publisher distinctive in the first place.
For players who follow indie games, the deal signals continuity—Headup’s recognizable editorial taste remains the foundation—along with the possibility of bigger reach and stronger backing for future releases. For indie developers, it suggests an expanded publishing network that still prioritizes advocacy, curation, and long-term partnership.
