Artie Raises $10M to Revolutionize Mobile Gaming
Artie Secures $10 Million to Revolutionize Mobile Game Distribution
Artie, a nascent company focused on innovative mobile game distribution methods, has announced the successful completion of a $10 million funding round.
Notable Investors Back Artie’s Vision
The investment was led by a group of prominent figures in the tech and entertainment industries. Backers include Zynga’s founder, Mark Pincus, alongside Thirty Five Ventures – the investment firm of Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman.
Further support comes from Raised In Space, spearheaded by Scooter Braun, Shutterstock founder Jon Oringer, and the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron. Susquehanna International Group, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment + The Sixers Lab, Google’s Manuel Bronstein, and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley also participated.
From AR Avatars to a New Distribution Platform
This funding round signifies a strategic shift for Artie. Initially conceived as a creator of augmented reality avatars, the company’s CEO, Ryan Horrigan, explained that they developed distribution technology addressing a more substantial challenge.
Horrigan and co-founder/CTO Armando Kirwin discovered their technology offered a solution to a critical need within the gaming industry.
Addressing Developer Concerns with App Store Restrictions
A key issue is game developers actively seeking alternatives to the regulations and limitations imposed by Apple’s App Stores. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has been a vocal advocate for change in this area.
Artie’s platform provides a solution by enabling users to play mobile games directly through a web browser or via shareable online links, eliminating the need for traditional app installation.
Differentiating Artie in the App-less Gaming Landscape
While several startups are exploring app-less mobile gaming, Artie distinguishes itself through its technological capabilities. Unlike competitors constrained by JavaScript and HTML5, Artie supports Unity, allowing for the creation of more complex, casual games.
The platform’s architecture is designed for scalability, with plans to eventually support even more demanding game experiences.
How Artie’s Technology Works
“We’re running Unity games on our cloud, similar to cloud gaming services,” Horrigan clarified. “However, we differ by not rendering graphics on the cloud and streaming video to players.”
Instead, Artie focuses on streaming highly-optimized assets and animations, which are then rendered in real-time within the user’s web browser.
Minimizing Costs and Latency
This approach aims to achieve seamless distribution outside of app stores while mitigating the challenges associated with cloud gaming, specifically high infrastructure costs and potential lag.
Artie’s Game Development and SDK Plans
The company is actively developing its own games, including an Alice in Wonderland adaptation and a beer pong game, with further releases planned throughout the year. A massively multiplayer online game is slated for release in 2022.
Furthermore, Artie intends to launch a Software Development Kit (SDK) to empower other developers to distribute their games through the Artie platform.
Monetization and User Experience
Artie’s initial games will adopt a free-to-play model, generating revenue through in-game purchases. Player progress will be tracked using cookies, with optional account creation for enhanced features.
Collaborations and the Future of Game Creation
Artie is currently collaborating with a prominent music artist and a major superhero IP holder. Horrigan believes that combining no-code/low-code authoring tools with Artie’s distribution network could spark a significant trend.
“Our vision is to collaborate with the next generation of influencers, enabling them to create games using these accessible tools and publish directly to their audiences on platforms like YouTube,” he stated. “Consider the potential of a branded game developed by your favorite hip-hop artist – we anticipate this becoming a reality, and Artie is positioned to facilitate it.”
