Insider Brief:
- Thirdverse has revealed that the company secured $15 million in capital through a third-party funding round with MZ Web3 Fund as the lead investor.
- This latest round brings the total amount of raised funding for Thirdverse to $33 million. With this additional funding, Thirdverse will focus on continuing to strengthen its global recruitment of game creators and other professionals, as well as continue the development of new Web3 and VR titles.
- Hironao Kunimitsu, Thirdverse CEO, says his company is thrilled to form a partnership with MZ Web3 Fund for the future growth of its team and investments in Web3 and VR.
PRESS RELEASE — TOKYO, Japan/November 22, 2022 — Thirdverse revealed today that the company secured $15 million in capital through a third-party funding round with MZ Web3 Fund as the lead investor. This latest round brings the total amount of raised funding for Thirdverse to $33 million. With this additional funding, Thirdverse will focus on continuing to strengthen its global recruitment of game creators and other professionals, as well as continue development of new Web3 and VR titles.
Hironao Kunimitsu, Thirdverse CEO, said: “We are thrilled to form a partnership with MZ Web3 Fund for the future growth of our team and investments in Web3 and VR. After significant growth in the past year, and with many projects in development and about to start development, we’re proud to enter a new stage of more accelerated growth for Thirdverse. While this may be a challenging climate for raising funding, we’ve been quite successful, and we’re very appreciative for the support of our newest investors who joined this round in these times. I believe it speaks to the excitement of our team and our partners for how we will push the boundaries of what we can create on these platforms. I’m confident that we’re creating games that will be loved by many audiences and that it’s critical for the future of this industry.”
Yusαku Maezawa, MZ Web3 Fund CEO, said: “Thirdverse’s team has an exceptional pedigree of experienced professionals in VR and blockchain gaming that I’ve never seen before, and the company is at an exciting point in its rapid global expansion. We believe that both the VR and Web3 gaming industries have a bright future, and that Thirdverse is uniquely positioned to benefit from the market growth trends and the remarkable experience of its team.”
Masaru “Nogi” Ohnogi, Thirdverse Chief Business Officer, said: “We’re dedicated to innovation and expanding the boundaries of VR and Web3 gaming. Our newest projects ALTAIR BREAKER, X8 and Captain Tsubasa -RIVALS- all showcase the exceptional talent of our team, their creativity and their desire to drive new experiences in gaming for audiences worldwide.”
Thirdverse’s total list of investors (in alphabetical order) includes 8DAO, B Dash Ventures, double jump.tokyo Inc., Fenbushi Capital, FLICK SHOT, Holdem Capital, KUSABI, MZ Web3 fund, OKCoinJapan, OKX Ventures and Yield Guild Games.
Founder / CEO: Hironao Kunimitsu
Co-Founder / CBO: Masaru Ohnogi
Overview of Thirdverse Blockchain Business and Future Projects
After SWORD PTE. LTD. was established in Singapore as a subsidiary with jurisdiction over blockchain-related business in January 2022, the company announced a basic agreement regarding the development and operation of Web3 games in collaboration with Drecom Co., Ltd. in March and later with BLOCKSMITH&Co., a strategic subsidiary of KLab Co., Ltd. in April of this year.
In September, Isao Moriyasu, former CEO and Representative Director of DeNA Co., Ltd. was appointed as Director of the Blockchain Business Department.
The following month, in October, a new Web3 game title “Captain Tsubasa -RIVALS-”, created in collaboration with BLOCKSMITH&Co., was announced to the public and professional soccer player Yuto Nagatomo was then appointed as official ambassador of the game.
The company plans to release more than 10 Web3 games through 2023, and is currently recruiting more game developers to expand the development line.
Overview of Thirdverse’s VR Game Business and Future Projects
In August 2022, the next-generation sword-fighting VR title “ALTAIR BREAKER” was released for Meta Quest 2 and PCVR.
The following month, in September, a new multiplayer VR tactical hero shooter title called “X8” and developed by Thirdverse’s US Studio was announced and exhibited to the public for the first time at the Tokyo Game Show 2022.
Lastly, in November, both titles were announced to be part of the lineup for PlayStation®VR2.
In the near future, the company plans to strengthen the recruitment of VR game creators for the development of new titles, scheduled for release in 2023 and beyond.
About Thirdverse, Co., Ltd
Thirdverse, Co., Ltd is a virtual reality and Web3 game development, distribution and management company paving the path to the metaverse with two studios in Japan and the United States.
In 2022, Thirdverse established a subsidiary dedicated to Web3 gaming, “SWORD PTE. LTD.”, located in Singapore. In March, Thirdverse Group announced a basic agreement with Drecom Co., Ltd. and in April with BLOCKSMITH&Co. Co., Ltd., a strategic subsidiary of KLab Co., Ltd., regarding the development and operation of Web3 games. In October 2022, the studio announced “CAPTAIN TSUBASA -RIVALS-”, a new Web3 game developed together with BLOCKSMITH&Co. Thirdverse Group aims to release more than 10 Web3 games by the end of 2023 and is currently recruiting for various positions in all departments including engineers.
For more information visit www.thirdverse.io.
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