Another mobile developer is building up its stockpile of cash to connect with gamers on smartphones.
London-based Space Ape Games, the studio responsible for the Clash of Clans-style game Samurai Siege, has raised $7 million in its latest round of funding. [Updated:] Northzone led the round with participation from Initial Capital, Accel Partners, and Connect Ventures. In total, Space Ape has raised more than $11 million in capital. The company intends to use its influx of cash to increase its marketing and player acquisitions efforts. It also is looking to hire more talent.
“We have big aspirations to grow and make the highest quality, most commercially successful games in the world for smart phone and tablets,” Space Ape Games founder and chief executive John Earner said in a statement. “The latest funding will help us realize this vision as we speed headlong into our growth plans for 2015.”
Those plans include a new game release early next year. In addition to its funding, Space Ape is also announcing its newest mobile release, Rival Kingdoms: Age of Ruin. Due out early 2015 for iOS and Android, Rival Kingdoms is Space Ape’s latest take on mobile strategy.
John Earner, commented: “We’re thrilled to unveil Rival Kingdoms. We listened to our players and developed a game we think breaks the mold in the mobile RTS genre. We want to lead the way in making core games accessible. Players are seeking a more core experience than the games available on their phones today provide, but given to them in a way that accommodates their busy modern lives.”
Space Ape is already a successful company. Samurai Siege has surpassed 10 million downloads and $20 million in revenue, but the studio is ready to build on those figures. To help with that, Space Ape is bringing in technology-industry veteran Jeppe Zink of venture-capital firm Northzone to join the board of directors.
“We’ve backed Space Ape Games since before the launch of Samurai Siege and have delighted in watching their success to date,” said Zink. “We have big growth plans in the pipeline, and I look forward to playing a bigger role in that.”