Weekly News Digest #47

Before we check last week’s deals, here’s a quick reminder: our Patreon subscribers get exclusive access to the investment datasets, a structured table covering every funding round and acquisition, investment amounts, transaction types, key players, and direct source links.

Essential for investors and industry professionals who need more data.

Discover our Patreon

We thank NEON for supporting this digest.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

[UPD] China-based tech giant Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700) has completed a $1.25B (€1.16B) strategic investment into Ubisoft Entertainment’s (PAR: UBI) newly formed subsidiary Vantage Studios, acquiring a 26.32% economic interest while Ubisoft retains exclusive control. The deal closes the transaction first announced in Mar’25 and is part of Ubisoft’s broader ‘creative houses’ reorganisation; we covered the strategic rationale in a previous review on our website.

US-based D2C platform Stash has acquired Israel-based D2C commerce company Galleon for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is aimed at strengthening Stash Pay’s fintech capabilities and expanding the company’s presence across the EMEA region. Galleon is a D2C commerce platform that helps game developers manage their revenue and provides services for SuperPlay’s portfolio, including Dice Dreams, Domino Dreams, and Disney Solitaire across mobile platforms.

VENTURE FINANCING

Web3 mobile games developer Wizzwoods has raised $10m in a Series A round led by Animoca Brands and Infinity Ventures Crypto. The funds will accelerate the development of the company’s upcoming game. Wizzwoods is building an open-world strategy farming title available through Telegram Mini Apps and X social network extensions.

South Korea-based web3 games developer NDUS Interactive has raised $1.6m in a round led by Neoclassic Capital and Winguard to support the Early Access launch of the company’s title XOCIETY on the Epic Games Store. XOCIETY is a web3 third-person RPG shooter, with Early Access planned for Nov’25. NDUS Interactive previously raised $7.5m in Jun’24.

Saudi Arabia-based gaming accelerator Exel by Merak, which announced its second cohort last week, has provided $5.7m to 19 start-ups, or $300k each, along with mentorship and industry support. The cohort is scheduled to conclude in mid-Feb’26, with applications for the next cohort expected to open in Apr’26. In Aug’25, the accelerator’s first cohort funded 17 companies with $300k each.

According to an SEC filing, US-based fantasy sports platform GridRival has secured $350k out of a planned $1.5m round from an undisclosed investor. GridRival is a Real-Money Gaming platform for motorsport fans, previously raised $3m in Mar’23.

Switzerland-based game tech startup Ovomind has secured $62.4k (CHF 50k) from Fongit. The funds will be used to accelerate the commercialization of the company’s proprietary neuro-interaction technology. Ovomind is developing a platform that enables developers to capture players’ emotional feedback during gameplay.

Germany-based PC & Console games developer Torpor Games has secured a Seed round from Sisu Game Ventures, Krafton (KRX: 259960), and 1Up Ventures. The funding will support the development of the studio’s new title, Conformist, and the continued expansion of the Suzerain universe through additional DLC. Torpor Games is best known for developing the strategy-focused political RPG Suzerain.

India-based social gaming platform STAN has added new funding to its Series A, bringing the round to $10.5m with investment from Sony Innovation Fund and Hyderabad Angels Fund. This tranche forms part of the previously announced $8.5m Series A round in Jul’25. The funds will support AI-driven personalization, enhance creator monetization, strengthen publisher integrations, and enable expansion into additional mobile-first markets. STAN operates an Indian social platform that connects creators and users through interest-based clubs and real-time chat rooms.

Web3 project Silly Kitties has secured an undisclosed grant from Ronin. The funding will support the development of a global IP. The project focuses on casual games, collectibles, and animated content for cat enthusiasts. Silly Kitties is currently working on CatWalk, a casual title featuring fitness and collectibles elements.

FUNDRAISING

UAE-based web3 platform NEXPACE, a subsidiary of Nexon (TYO: 3659), has launched a $50m fund. The initiative aims to enhance the company’s MapleStory Universe (MSU) ecosystem and will provide investments and grants to accelerate web3 game and IP development tied to MSU. The fund will focus on strengthening key areas, including gaming, the finance layer, AI, RWAs, and the builder economy.