Imagine denies rumour of bid for Play magazine

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Imagine Publishing MD Damian Butt has dismissed rumours that the company recently attempted to buy Play magazine from troubled rival Highbury House.

Butt dismissed the rumours as "absolute nonsense" - but declined to completely rule out any kind of Highbury acquisition in the future.

"Imagine has a portfolio of seven titles and a well-publicised aim to grow significantly through new launches and acquisitions, so it's no surprise to see us mentioned with regards Highbury's current situation," Butt told GamesIndustry.biz.

"After all, the founders of Imagine used to run Paragon Publishing and then Highbury Entertainment up to 2004, we know it very well, and under our control it was extremely profitable."

"Who knows what's around the corner?"

Highbury House was put up for sale after CEO Kelvin Mackenzie left the company late last year. Earlier this week, a source at Highbury told GamesIndustry.biz that the publisher may consider selling off its regional divisions in the future, but that individual magazine titles were not currently up for sale.