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Mobile strategy dev Space Ape raises $7 million for Samuari Siege follow up

Outfit prepping Rival Kingdoms for 2015

Date Type Companies involved Size
December 3rd, 2014 investment Accel Partners
Connect Ventures
Initial Capital
Northzone
Space Ape Games
$7m
Mobile strategy dev Space Ape raises $7 million for Samuari Siege follow up

Space Ape Games, the London-based games developer responsible for Samurai Siege, has taken two leaps forward in an aggressive program of expansion.

The first has seen the developer raise $7 million in its Series C funding.

Led by Northzone - with participation from Accel Partners, Initial Capital and Connect Ventures – the investment brings Space Ape Games' accrued fundraising to-date to $11 million.

The company - which states it's already profitable - will use the cash injection to boost its UA campaigns, as well as fund the growth of the Space Ape team.

Between 30 and 40 hires are expected in the next six months, with a specialist internal recruiting team having been established to source London's top development talent. You can check out its jobs page here. 

At board level, technology veteran Jeppe Zink of Northzone is also joining the Space Ape team.

Meanwhile ex-Electronic Arts EVP, Barry Cottle and London Venture Capital and ex-EA exec David Gardner will take up advisory roles within the company.

Difficult second album

Another reason for the team expansion is the developer is working on second title Rival Kingdoms: Age of Ruin.

The game has big shoes to fill, considering that its predecessor, Samurai Siege generated over $20 million in aggregate revenue from 10 million downloads.

Rival Kingdoms is already open for pre-registration, and is being described as a "bold new take" on the mobile RTS genre with a "heavy emphasis on explosive action, intense multi-player combat, collaborative guild-based play, and a rich backstory".

Detail from the forthcoming Rival Kingdoms

The game will launch on iOS and Android in early 2015.

"We think gaming will be the defining entertainment medium of the 21st century," said Space Ape Games' founder and CEO, John Earner.

"We've built one of the best game teams in the world. We have big aspirations to grow and make the highest quality, most commercially successful games in the world for smartphone and tablets.

"The latest funding will help us realise this vision as we speed headlong into our growth plans for 2015."

News Editor