Hey there! I hope you’re ready to start the week with another fresh batch of handpicked gaming startups ready to shake up the industry. Whether you’re looking for the next breakout studio or innovative gaming tech, we’ve got you covered!

So grab your coffee (or energy drink 🏆), and let’s dive into this week’s top gaming startups! 🎮👇

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Dark Passenger

Overview

Dark Passenger is a Warsaw-based game studio founded in 2022 by veterans from CD Projekt Red and RealTime Warriors. The team includes talent from titles like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. They're developing a first-person, multiplayer stealth-action game set in feudal Japan, using Unreal Engine 5. The game promises dynamic movement mechanics, like wall-running and arrow-surfing, and a rich arsenal of traditional weapons.

In December 2024, Dark Passenger secured $3 million in seed funding from The Games Fund and Blite Fund. This investment is fueling the expansion of their team, aiming to double its size to over 60 members by launch.

Founded: 2022

Location: Poland

Website

LinkedIn

Bravo Ready

Overview

Montreal-based Bravo Ready is pushing the boundaries of Web3 gaming with BR1: Infinite Royale. This first- and third-person tactical shooter introduces a novel "pay-to-spawn, kill-to-earn" model. In this game, players pay a fee to enter and earn rewards for each elimination, blending high-stakes gameplay with blockchain technology.

In July 2022, Bravo Ready secured $3 million in seed funding from notable investors, including Solana Ventures, 6th Man Ventures, Shima Capital, and Fractal CEO Justin Kan. The funds are being utilized to accelerate game development and expand the BR1 ecosystem.

Founded: 2022

Location: Canada

Website

LinkedIn

Play Makers

Overview

Paris-based PlayMakers is building a white-label platform that empowers game studios to tap into the creative potential of their communities. By simplifying the integration of user-generated content, PlayMakers enables players to contribute assets like 3D characters, animations, and music, creating better engagement and fresh content for games.

Founded in 2023 by former Homa Games employees Ilan Nabeth, Maxime Niankouri, and Costantino Carrega, the team brings experience from games that have collectively achieved over 600 million downloads. In February 2024, PlayMakers secured a $1.5 million pre-seed round led by RockawayX, with participation from notable investors including Sébastien Borget (The Sandbox), Vincent Hart de Keating (Homa, Kovalee), and Hugues Ouvard (former Xbox Managing Director).

Founded: 2022

Location: France

Website

LinkedIn

Rebel Wolves

Overview

Rebel Wolves is a Warsaw-based game studio founded in 2022 by industry veterans from CD Projekt Red, including Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the game director of The Witcher 3. The team, comprising talent from acclaimed titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Thronebreaker, is developing The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy action RPG built on Unreal Engine 5. Set in an alternate 14th-century Europe, the game follows Coen, a young man transformed into a "Dawnwalker," navigating a world overrun by vampires and plagued by the Black Death.

In November 2022, Rebel Wolves secured a strategic investment from NetEase Games, with NetEase holding a minority stake. The studio retains majority ownership, ensuring creative independence. In October 2024, they announced a publishing partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment for the global release of The Blood of Dawnwalker on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Founded: 2022

Location: Poland

Website

LinkedIn

Grindclaw

Overview

GrindClaw is a European startup revolutionizing gaming ergonomics with its flagship product: the GrindClaw™ Gaming Gloves. Designed by gamers for gamers, these gloves aim to alleviate wrist strain, enhance grip, and improve overall comfort during extended gaming sessions. Using advanced Dreamshape textile and anti-slip technology, they offer breathable support to keep hands cool and responsive.

Founded by Janis Dzerve, a passionate gamer, and Girts, a scientist dedicated to ergonomic innovation, GrindClaw emerged from their shared struggle with gaming-related wrist pain.

Founded: 2022

Location: Latvia

Website

LinkedIn

That’s a wrap for this week’s edition! 🎮🚀

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