Business of games: 6 biggest funding rounds, partnerships, and trends from the last 2 weeks

Investment news update, from Dec 4th and Jan 1st week:

1. Keywords Studios acquires The Multiplayer Group from Improbable Worlds for $97.1M
2. South Korean Game Publisher Wemade Launches $100 Million Blockchain Investment Fund
3. Tilting Point, Hilfiger Ventures, and Brandible prepare to launch AI fashion game
4. Atari acquires 7.5% stake in tinyBuild for $2 million, sending the company’s stock up 70%
5. Marcos Gaming completes pre-seed round to bolster Indian Esports
6. Ready Player One author and Futureverse team up for Readyverse Studios metaverse

Jan 2nd and 3rd week:

1. Second Dinner has raised $100 million for Marvel Snap
2. ArenaX Labs raises $6M for AI-driven game development
3. Talofa Games raises $6.3M to build fitness games for good
4. Pine Games raises $2.25M to make mobile games in Istanbul
5. Nazara raises Rs 250 cr from Zerodha-backed Kamath associates, ICICI securities
6. Harbiz raised $5.4M for fitness professionals platform
7. Leslie Benzies’ Build A Rocket Boy studio raises $110M for “flagship” trio of projects
8. Obelisk Studio raises $2M to pivot from co-development into its own IP. A WFH studio transition to build their IP

Jan 4th week:

1. Rize.gg wraps up pre-seed round, raises $430,000 to train and empower gamers
2. Playdemic founders raise $10m for new UK mobile studio ForthStar
3. TapNation acquires AI-powered UAhero to amp up its user acquisition strategy
4. Rocksteady founders set up new studio Hundred Star Games
5. Crikey Gaming Studio has raised undisclosed funds
6. Nazaras Nodwin Gaming acquired comic con India for Rs 55 crore
7. Build A Rocket Boy completes $110 million Series D funding round
8. True Gamers secures $45m investment for esports expansion in Saudi Arabia.
9. AOFverse raises $3 million to propel Web3 gaming vision.
10. Fasanara Capital has acquired Pollen VC

With Love, Cartic P
/ @iCartic