Studio Gardens in Seattle raises $31.3 million for the upcoming

Seattle based studio gardens announced today that it has raised $31.3 million to fund an ambitious online fantasy PvPvE Action-RPG.

Lightspeed Venture Partners and Krafton have been joined by names like Mike Morhaime’s Dreamhaven, Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell, Pyrtana Media founders Annie and Jeff Strain, and others in backing the project.

After the funding was secured, Gardens announced that Microsoft president John W. Thompson, former Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tritton, former Tencent president and Take-Two CEO Ben Vader, along with No. 10 Yamauchi have joined its advisory team.

The funding will stimulate the development of the studio’s next PvPvE Fantasy Adventure sandbox ARPG.

“It’s a game inspired by our favorite memories of playing RPGs, MMOs, and fantasy adventure games over the years, and memories of crossing paths with strangers,” said Chris Bell, co-founder and game director at Gardens.

The game builds on multiplayer ideas and lessons from previous titles I helped design like Journey, Sky, and even my own student game, while bringing players to higher stakes, transforming forms of fantasy wilderness where cooperation is key, yet betrayal is still possible. We’re including new co-op gameplay that rewards players who help each other, and that can encourage friendship, dialogue with PvP, and conflict in interesting and devastating ways.

“We’re growing the world we want to play in every day, a world designed to deliver new experiences every time you play, and grow and evolve for years to come. With our amazing new partners and this latest funding round, we can continue to craft the best game possible while growing and supporting our amazing team. “

The team behind Gardens’ debut title is made up of industry veterans who previously contributed to titles such as Sky: Children of the Light, Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, and Tunic.

The studio presented a playable prototype of its upcoming game behind closed doors at GDC 2023, where it received positive feedback.

Maria Park, vice president and head of corporate development at Crafton who also joins the Gardens board of directors, noted how the title Cooperative multiplayer elements emphasize tactile interactions between players as they collaborate to navigate the world, solve puzzles, and awaken dormant magic, such as riding on a friend’s shoulders to fetch fruit from a tree, jumping across a chasm into a stranger’s arms, pulling together a giant monster’s shield, or joining forces to cast a spell. magical.”

Gardens aims to significantly increase its team this year, to support the development of the ARPG. Available positions with remote studio are marked on website.

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