News

Bit Fry Game Studios raises additional $3.5 million in funding

Xbox co-creator Ed Fries' 1Up Ventures led backing

Date Type Companies involved Size
February 13th, 2020 investment Bit Fry Game Studios $3.5m
Bit Fry Game Studios raises additional $3.5 million in funding

North Hampshire-based mobile developer Bit Fry Game Studios has raised $3.5 million in additional funding. 

The backing was led by 1Up Ventures, founded by Xbox co-creator Ed Fries, and BITKRAFT Esports Ventures, a leading venture capital fund focused on esports.

The capital raised will go towards the company's expansion of its arcade-action sports game franchise, Ultimate Rivals.

Founded in November 2013, the studio launched Ultimate Rivals: The Rink in December 2019 on Apple Arcade.

"Expand our franchise"

"As we continue to expand our franchise into the competitive gaming space, I can't think of better capital and strategic partners than BITKRAFT and 1Up Ventures," said Bit Fry Game Studios CEO and founder Ben Freidlin.

"BITKRAFT is the world's preeminent esports-focused fund, and Ed is a gaming luminary as co-creator of Xbox. Their investments demonstrate how our studio continues to attract leading strategic capital players in this highly competitive space."

BITKRAFT founding general parter Scott Rupp added: "The sports video gaming category is overdue for innovation that's relevant to today's gamers, platforms and the broader entertainment culture."

"Bit Fry CEO Ben Freidlin is a force of nature and the perfect person to disrupt this space. Ultimate Rivals is just getting started and will re-define this category for the long-term."


Deputy Editor

Matthew Forde is the deputy editor at PocketGamer.biz and also a member of the Pocket Gamer Podcast. You can find him on Twitter @MattForde64 talking about stats, data and everything pop culture related - particularly superheroes.