HyperPlay Raises $12 Million to Accelerate Web3 Game Launcher

HyperPlay, a platform (or launcher) for accessing Web3-native video games, has raised a $12 million Sequence A funding spherical co-led by Griffin Gaming Companions and Bitkraft Ventures. Ethereum software program studio ConsenSys additionally participated within the spherical.

The startup was based final November as a joint initiative between ConsenSys, the mum or dad firm of fashionable Ethereum pockets MetaMask, and the gaming-centric DAO (or tokenized group) Game7. Pseudonymous founder JacobC.eth was beforehand an operations lead at MetaMask. (Disclosure: ConsenSys is considered one of 22 strategic buyers in Decrypt.)

“HyperPlay ensures there’s a house for open and developer-friendly video games, encouraging technical innovation in video games and accruing extra worth to builders versus conventional constructs,” mentioned Pierre Planche, associate at Griffin Gaming Companions, in a launch.

HyperPlay launched its service in March. On the time, JacobC.eth instructed Decrypt that the platform will make its cash by complementary providers, slightly than taking a lower of recreation gross sales.

“Not like the Apple Retailer, we’re not taking a 30% lower of your developer’s in-game economic system,” he mentioned on the time. “We’re a brilliant developer-loyal product.”

HyperPlay makes a speciality of Web3 video games, which use NFTs and crypto tokens and supply open economies for gamers. The platform at present lists Web3 video games like The Sandbox, The Bornless, Phantom Galaxies, and DeFi Kingdoms.

Nonetheless, the launcher additionally aggregates conventional online game listings from fashionable shops like Epic Video games and Good Outdated Video games. As such, it’s designed as a one-stop-shop for PC players.

HyperPlay mentioned that it’ll use the funding to additional develop its launcher, in addition to gas worldwide enlargement for the platform.