Thomas Wilde
Thomas Wilde is a journalist and editor who has worked in the gaming press since 2002, notably serving as the editor for DoubleJump Books.
Ironwood Studios Raises $4 Million Seed Round Led by Lifelike Capital to Develop Next Game After Pacific Drive's 1.5M Sales
Seattle-based Ironwood Studios raised $4 million in seed funding led by Lifelike Capital to finance its next game following the success of Pacific Drive, which has sold over 1.5 million units since its February 2024 release. Pacific Drive, a driving survival game with no traditional combat, is also being adapted for TV by filmmaker James Wan.
Reflection Games, Led by Big Fish Founder Paul Thelen, Raises $1.1M to Support Mobile Strategy Battler Mutant Forge
Reflection Games, founded in 2021 by veterans of Big Fish Games, raised $1.1 million to support its free-to-play strategy battler Mutant Forge, which launched on iOS and Android in September. The game blends tower defense and auto-battler mechanics and started its second content season in February.
Seattle Gaming Startup Rec Room Cuts 16% of Staff Amid Challenging Fundraising and Market Conditions
Seattle-based gaming startup Rec Room has laid off 16% of its 372 employees due to a challenging fundraising environment and changing market conditions. CEO Nick Fajt emphasized the need to become self-sustaining and plans to reorganize the company while preparing to launch its major update, Rooms 2.0.
Rand Fishkin Raises $2.15M From 38 Angel Investors for Seattle-Based Snackbar Studio's Debut Game Launch in 2026
Rand Fishkin, co-founder of SparkToro, launched Snackbar Studio, an indie video game company in Seattle, raising $2.15 million from 38 angel investors to develop their first game, The Snackbar at the End of the World, planned for a 2026 PC release. The funding model uses personal networks rather than VC money, with open-source pitch and funding documents to support other indie developers.
Seattle Startup Live Aware Labs Raises $4.8M to Advance AI Feedback Platform for Game Developers
Seattle startup Live Aware Labs raised $4.8 million in seed funding led by Transcend to develop its AI-powered feedback management platform for game developers. The platform aims to improve game development by enabling better feedback, faster iteration, and closer communication with player communities.
Seattle Startup Loot Labs Raises $6M Seed Round Led by BITKRAFT Ventures to Expand Boxed.gg Digital Collectibles Platform
Seattle-based Loot Labs raised $6 million in a seed round led by BITKRAFT Ventures to expand its digital collectibles platform Boxed.gg, including a beta for trading Counter-Strike 2 weapon skins. Boxed.gg offers a gamified marketplace for collectible cards like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, allowing digital purchases and physical merchandise fulfillment.
Hopoo Games Founders Join Valve, Cease 'Snail' Project and Close Seattle Studio
Hopoo Games, creators of the Risk of Rain series, are shutting down their studio to join Valve Software full-time, halting their current project 'Snail.' The studio's founders and many team members will now work on Valve's internal game projects.
Mirra Launches in Bellevue as an Upscale VR Entertainment Venue Featuring Team-Based Games for Up to 32 Players
Mirra is a new virtual reality entertainment venue opening soon in Bellevue, featuring team-based VR games displayed on a large central screen for spectators. The venue combines upscale gastropub ambiance with original VR games like Laser Room and Hockey Smash, supporting multiplayer competition among up to 32 players.
VR Startup Mirra Launches 10,700-Square-Foot Social Gaming Venue in Bellevue This August
Mirra, a virtual reality entertainment startup, is opening its first 10,700-square-foot social VR gaming venue in Bellevue, Washington in August, offering unique party-style VR games and a nightclub experience. The venue features in-house developed games, an 8K LED screen display, a full kitchen and bar, and operates as an all-ages space until 6 p.m. before becoming a 21-and-over nightclub.
Digital Youth Safety Startup k-ID Raises $45M Series A to Help Game Developers Comply with Global Age Regulations
k-ID, a Singapore and Seattle-based startup, raised $45 million in Series A funding to provide tools helping game developers comply with age-related regulations and enable parental control over children's online experiences. Their platform addresses international regulatory efforts on youth safety, such as restrictions on loot boxes and age assurance in various countries.
Seattle Indie Developer Galvanic Games to Close After Poor Sales of Wizard With a Gun, Ten Jobs Lost
Seattle indie game developer Galvanic Games is shutting down due to insufficient sales from its last game, Wizard With a Gun, resulting in layoffs for ten employees. The closure reflects wider industry challenges, including prolonged project signings and a difficult market for games.
Seattle’s Threshold Games Shuts Down in February 2024 Before Debut Project Launch Amid Industry Challenges
Seattle-based indie game developer Threshold Games, founded in 2019 and known for diverse storytelling, shut down in February 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances before unveiling its debut project. The closure reflects broader industry challenges including high interest rates, reduced investment, and market saturation impacting multiple indie studios.
Seattle Startup Charmed Raises $500K Led by Tacoma Venture Fund to Launch AI-Driven 3D Character Design Tool
Seattle-based startup Charmed raised over $500,000 led by Tacoma Venture Fund to launch a new AI-powered 3D character design tool that rapidly generates models, textures, and animations from prompts. Founder Jeremy Tryba aims to build an end-to-end 3D AI platform enabling game designers to quickly create prototypes and accelerate development.
Seattle’s Rec Room Sues Canadian Teen M.Z. for Harassment and Cheating Tools on Platform
Seattle-based Rec Room filed a lawsuit against a Canadian teenage user, M.Z., accusing him of harassment, creating cheat tools, and causing disruptions on the platform. M.Z. allegedly used hacks to evade bans, post racist content, and crash servers, impacting the virtual gaming community and Rec Room's operations.
Harebrained Schemes Parts Ways with Paradox Interactive, Regains Independence Starting January 1, 2024
Seattle game developer Harebrained Schemes will become independent from Paradox Interactive on January 1 after a mutual agreement; Paradox acquired Harebrained in 2018 for $7.5 million but is refocusing on its core strategy and management game niches. Paradox retains ownership of Harebrained's existing games, including The Lamplighters League and BattleTech, while Harebrained seeks new funding and partnerships for its future.
ProbablyMonsters Cancels Unannounced Debut Project at Cauldron Studio Led by Dave Matthews
ProbablyMonsters has cancelled development of an unannounced debut game project from its Cauldron studio, led by Dave Matthews, citing an uncertain competitive landscape. The company plans to reassign affected employees to other teams and keep Cauldron active for future storytelling opportunities.
Seattle’s Ironwood Studios Prepares to Launch Pacific Drive, a Post-Apocalyptic Driving Survival Game Set in the Pacific Northwest
Ironwood Studios, a Seattle-based indie developer with experienced staff, is launching its debut game Pacific Drive, a randomized driving survival game set in a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest called the Olympic Exclusion Zone. The game emphasizes vehicle management and personal survival, with a scheduled release later this year, accompanied by a developer diary series.
Seattle Startup Starform, Founded by Ex-Z2 Team, Releases 'Metalstorm' Aerial Combat Game with BITKRAFT-Backed Funding
Seattle-based game studio Starform, founded by former Z2 employees, has launched Metalstorm, a free-to-play, fast-paced 5 vs. 5 aerial combat game for PC and mobile, now in open beta in select countries. The game emphasizes action over realistic flight simulation and is partially funded by a 2021 seed round led by BITKRAFT Ventures.
Loot Labs Raises $1.5M to Launch Boxed.gg NFT Loot Box Platform Inspired by Video Games
Seattle-based Loot Labs raised $1.5 million to launch Boxed.gg, a platform offering NFT-based digital loot boxes inspired by video game mechanics. The platform aims to provide transparent pricing and odds for its mystery boxes containing collectible NFTs.
Mobile Game Developer BebopBee Secures $4M to Expand Match-3 Puzzle Game Travel Crush
BebopBee, the developer of the mobile match-3 game Travel Crush, raised $4 million to hire new staff and enhance its flagship game. The company plans to expand its teams and community features as it positions Travel Crush as a long-term global puzzle franchise.
PitchBook Reports 62% Drop in Video Game VC Deals in 2022 Amid Regulatory Scrutiny but Highlights New AI and Metaverse Investment Opportunities
PitchBook's report shows a contraction in video game industry VC deals in 2022 with a 62% drop in deal count and 82% lower growth year-over-year, yet total deal value in 2022 ($13.3 billion) remains nearly four times that of 2019. Despite the slowdown driven by macroeconomic uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny, new investment opportunities arise in VR, AR, metaverse, and generative AI for game development.
Seattle Mobile Game Developer Lightfox Games Raises $6M to Develop New Title Following Success of Knight’s Edge
Seattle-based mobile game developer Lightfox Games, known for its 2021 debut title Knight’s Edge, has raised $6 million to fund a new game in development. CEO Ryan Hanft-Murphy confirmed the funding but has not disclosed investor details, and plans to unveil the new project this summer.
Seattle’s Rec Room Partners with NFL to Launch Official Team Gear for Avatars Ahead of Playoffs
Rec Room, a Seattle-based social gaming startup, partnered with the NFL to offer official team merchandise for avatars in its app, just in time for the NFL playoffs. Fans can now buy licensed NFL hoodies and hats for their avatars, enhancing virtual fan experiences within the app’s community of over 80 million users.
Seattle's Rec Room Hits $3.5B Valuation with 29M Users but Rejects 'Metaverse' Label
Seattle startup Rec Room, valued at $3.5 billion, has expanded its avatar-based social gaming app to 29 million active users across multiple platforms with significant mobile growth and new content partnerships. Despite its virtual social space and rapid user base expansion, Rec Room does not consider itself a 'metaverse' company, positioning its platform as a supplement rather than an alternative to real life.
Netflix Acquires Seattle Game Studio Spry Fox to Expand Ad-Free Mobile Game Offerings
Netflix announced the acquisition of Seattle-based game studio Spry Fox, marking its sixth internal video game studio to expand its gaming operations. Spry Fox, known for casual titles like Cozy Grove, aligns with Netflix's focus on creating ad-free, wholesome mobile games for its subscribers.
Organizations
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DoubleJump Books Photographer · current
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GeekWire Photographer · current
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Valve Photographer · current
