$15 Million Raised for Manticore Games
Two executives previously in the employ of Zynga have managed to raise $15 million for Manticore Games, their brand-new gaming studio. It has been eight years since Jordan Maynard and Frederic Descamps launched their previous gaming start-up, the industry they assisted in shaping with A Bit Lucky. A Bit Lucky is a social game development company that provides multiplier games that unfold in real-time, and brings in over $100 billion in revenue globally.
A Resurgence in the Popularity of Personal Computer Gaming
Much in the same way that the easy access to top real money slots online has caused a surge in popularity for internet-based gambling, games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and League of Legends have resulted in a resurgence of gaming on PCs. In fact, user-generated content from within the gaming community has gone on to produce a string of incredibly popular hits, including Defense of the Ancients 2 and Rocket League.
Manticore Games Hopes to Harness These Trends
These trends are precisely what Maynard and Descamps hope to harness with their brand-new gaming studio, Manticore Games. Situated in San Mateo, this company is an independent developer of very high quality hardcore multiplayer personal computer and console games and services.
An Undisclosed Game in the Wings
With a new round of $15 million led by Benchmark, Manticore Games is working hard on an unknown game that will make use of the very same passion that users have in order to develop an innovative gaming experience.
Benchmark’s general partner, Mitch Lasky, stated that he had been very eagerly anticipating working with Maynard and Descamps for many years.
He revealed that they have been having an on going conversation regarding unique ways in which value and fun could be created for players, and he was very pleased to be able to assist them in building their exciting new company. Lasky’s previous early-stage investments include Discord, Outpost Games, Playfab, Riot Games, Snap, Gaikai, and Natural Motion.
Manticore Will Focus on PC Gaming
Focusing its energy on personal computer gaming, Manticore is busy with the task of creating a new manner of multiplayer play that makes use of content that users generate, says Descamps. He went on to say that tapping into the community power in terms of innovations extending into game design and play is very powerful, and allows developers to get a far better idea of what players were looking for.
As Manticore is cooking up its first game, would-be players can look forward to a level of strategic gameplay and complexity similar to that found in the titles that are in the forefront of the PC gaming world currently.
The Financing Has Been Rounded Out
The founders’ pedigree and their plans for a brand-new game have been enough to attract other investors focused on games in order to round the financing out. Extra investors in the company’s $15 million round include Correlation Ventures, Macro Ventures, BITKRAFT Esports Ventures, SV Angel, and CrunchFund, along with a number of other high-profile tech and gaming entrepreneurs.