Netspeak Games, a London-based remote-first games studio, announced today that it has secured $12M in a Series A round of funding led by Lakestar (invested in Modulate) and Project A.
Other investors like Makers Fund and notable industry personalities, including Hilmar Veigar Pétursson (CCP), Phil Mansel (Jagex), and Catherine Chew (Kepler Interactive), also participated. This new funding round brings Netspeak’s total raised to $16M.
The UK company will use the funds to expand its team and grow at an accelerated rate to bring its first game, ‘Sunshine Days’, to market. Sunshine Days is the first title from the studio currently in early access on Android and iOS.
Games for everyone
Founded in 2019, Netspeak Games is a remote-first studio building a culture that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and community while encouraging creativity and fun.
The studio consists of talent from companies like Sony, EA, Rockstar, Payload Studios, Lockwood Publishing, SEGA Europe, and King, as well as from further afield, having recently recruited talent from Palantir and Microsoft.
“I’m thrilled on behalf of my whole team that I get to share this funding news today. At Netspeak, we strive to get past our industry’s obsession with the latest trend or newest technology and make games that truly express the potential of our medium – by building worlds our players will want to spend time in by giving them tools to express and explore their identities and by creating experiences that they can share with friends, old and new.”
He adds, “Building a company during a pandemic has been a challenge – but I’m pleased to say that by being supportive, kind & continuing to prioritize our studio culture above everything else, we are now a world-class team backed by industry leading investors,” Callum Brighting, CEO Netspeak Games.
Mika Salmi, the Managing Partner at Lakestar, says, “Netspeak Games has taken a different approach to the type of games it builds and the internal culture they have created to build them. I’m happy to be backing a team leading the way in a games market that can use some diversity.”
