Weekly News Digest #9

Last week, we saw a lack of significant transactions in our digest. During this period, we are focusing on preparing new research to share with you soon—stay tuned!

In the meantime, don’t miss our Features section, where we analyze key market shifts and strategic trends. Our latest deep dive, Corporate Overhaul: Why Does CVC Play a Bigger Role Than Ever?, unpacks how corporate venture capital is reshaping the industry.

We thank MY.GAMES for supporting this digest.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Forte, a US-based web3 tech company, has acquired Sealance, a US-based web3 compliance tech company, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition aims to strengthen Forte’s regulatory compliance solutions by integrating Sealance’s policy Rules Engine. This move aligns with Forte’s strategic expansion beyond gaming into broader web3 compliance solutions. The company raised $725m in a Series B round in Nov’21.

US-based backend game engine developer Pragma has acquired FirstLook, a Netherlands-based playtest software company, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is expected to enhance Pragma’s testing software by integrating multiple tools needed for developer playtesting. The timeline for the integration was not disclosed.

VENTURE FINANCING

Saudi Arabia-based Saudi Social Development Bank (SDB) has invested $12m in Saudi Arabia-based mobile game developer Lobah Digital and $6.6m in a gaming hardware company, Virtual Reality Solutions. Additionally, SDB has increased its total funding for the esports and game development sectors to $122m. This initiative is part of the National Development Fund’s strategy to support the growth of the gaming industry.

US-based web3 game developer Acid Labs has raised $8m in a funding round led by A16z Speedrun and NFX, with participation from Fusion VC and other investors. The funds will support the development of blockchain games integrated into messaging platforms. Acid Labs has already released Boinkers.io, a casual tap-to-earn title for Telegram with 11.5 million MAU.

Turkey-based mobile game developer Surpass Games has raised $1.5m in a pre-Seed funding round from Laton Ventures. The funds will support team expansion and the development of new titles. Surpass Games is currently focused on developing hybrid casual games. This marks the sixth investment for Laton Ventures. You can find more information about Laton activity in our research of gaming investments in Turkey on our website. You can also find the complete list of Laton’s investments by subscribing to our Patreon.

UK-based animation company REKiNDLED Studios has raised $283k (£225k) in a funding round led by angel investors, including the co-founders of Lvl Up Partners, Finstock Capital, and The Multiplayer Group. The funds will be used to expand the team, including new leadership roles, enhance production capabilities, and invest in technology. REKiNDLED Studios’ portfolio includes work with Fuse Games, BBC, and Humanoid Studios and contributions to titles such as Marauders, Deceit 2, and Nyan Heroes.

Finland-based mobile game developer Seven Stars has raised an undisclosed amount in a Seed funding round co-led by Spintop Ventures and Behold Ventures, with participation from Sisu Game Ventures, Failup Ventures, and angel investors. The studio has also received EU funding for an undisclosed R&D project. The investment will support the development of next-generation puzzle games. Seven Stars’ team includes Moon Active, Seriously, Rovio, SciPlay, and Small Giant Games developers.

Japan-based AI and cloud solutions company Ubitus has raised an undisclosed amount from the Tokyo University Innovation Platform. The investment is part of Japan’s GPU center expansion and cloud computing initiatives. Ubitas operates in the green energy AI data center sector and focuses on accelerating AI technologies, particularly in the gaming industry.

India-based PC & Console game publisher 1312 Interactive has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-Seed funding round from various angel investors. The publisher will focus on AA and indie puzzle and narrative titles globally and plans to release three upcoming games: Winds of Arcana, Palm Sugar: A Village Story, and Souls of Bombarika. In the future, the company aims to expand its pipeline to 6–8 titles per year.

US-based mobile gaming platform Skillz (NYSE: SKLZ) has launched a $75m cash accelerator program for skill-based mobile game developers over the next three years. The program will offer developers access to Skillz’s proprietary software development kit, financial and technical support, operational assistance, and exclusive user acquisition strategies. Skillz plans to support at least 25 real-money mobile games through the initiative. The accelerator is part of the company’s strategy to expand in the skill-based gaming sector.

South Korea-based web3 gaming platform Marblex, a subsidiary of South Korea-based mobile game developer Netmarble (KS: 251270), has announced a $20m joint fund in cooperation with an Australia-based web3 company, Immutable. The fund aligns with Marblex’s new strategic direction for 2025, which focuses on expanding its web3 gaming ecosystem through the diversification of its game portfolio. As part of this initiative, Marblex has announced seven new titles, including Self-Made Billionaire and Mercenary Children.

EARNINGS REPORTS