Reykjavik, Iceland-based CCP Games, an independent game developer, announced on Tuesday, March 21, that it has secured $40M (approximately €36.6M) in funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
Makers Fund, BITKRAFT, Kingsway Capital, HASHED, and Nexon also participated in the round.
CCP Games says it will use the funds to accelerate the full-scale development of a new AAA title utilising blockchain technology, set within the EVE Universe.
“Since its inception, CCP Games’ vision has been to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life. Now, with advancements made within the blockchain, we can forge a new universe deeply imbued with our expertise in player agency and autonomy, empowering players to engage in new ways,” says CCP Games CEO Hilmar V. Pétursson.
The new project will employ smart-contract blockchain technology, with key game systems developed on-chain. Its main focus will be on persistence, composability, and facilitating truly open third-party development.
It will establish a fresh relationship between players and virtual worlds, says the company.
CCP Games: What you need to know
Founded in 1997, CCP Games is an independent game developer best known for creating the multiplayer online game (MMO) EVE Online.
CCP Games aims to create immersive gaming experiences that allow players to explore vast, complex worlds filled with exciting gameplay mechanics and deep narrative themes.
CCP is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, and has additional studios in London and Shanghai.
The Investor
Based out of California, Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z) is a stage-agnostic venture capital firm with $19.2B in assets under management across multiple funds, including the $1.4B Bio funds, the $3.1B Crypto funds, and the Cultural Leadership Fund.
The company invests in seed to late-stage technology companies across the consumer, enterprise, bio/healthcare, crypto, and fintech spaces.
“CCP Games is a pioneer in virtual worlds and digital economies with 25 years of experience creating living sandboxes with unparalleled depth. They’re a veteran team and we believe in their ambitious vision to deliver incredible player experiences at the intersection of best-in-class game design and blockchain technology,” said a16z General Partner Jonathan Lai.