Pragma Raises $12M to Revolutionize Gaming Infrastructure

Pragma Secures $12 Million in Series A Funding for Game Backend Services

Pragma is developing a comprehensive “backend as a service” solution. This provides pre-built infrastructure specifically for developers creating online, live service games.

The company announced today that it has successfully raised $12 million in a Series A funding round.

Investment Details

David Thacker at Greylock led the investment round. Notable participants included Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, Nate Mitchell, founder of Oculus, and Amr Awadallah, founder of Cloudera.

Previous investors, Upfront Ventures and Advancit Capital, also contributed to this funding. Furthermore, Amy Chang, whose business intelligence startup Accompany was acquired by Cisco, will be joining Pragma’s board of directors.

Addressing a Gap in the Gaming Industry

According to co-founder and CEO Eden Chen, while Unity and Unreal Engine dominate the frontend game engine market, Pragma aims to establish itself as the leading “de facto backend game engine.”

Chen, alongside co-founder Chris Cobb (formerly engineering lead at Riot Games), believes the timing is optimal for launching this platform.

The increasing popularity of live service games – titles like League of Legends that require continuous updates and engagement – necessitates treating games as “living, breathing products.” Improved infrastructure platforms, such as Amazon Web Services, also contribute to this favorable environment.

Current Offerings and Beta Testing

Pragma has launched a starter kit today. This allows developers to rapidly establish and test core game loops.

The complete platform is currently undergoing private beta testing with several studios. These include One More Game, founded by Pat Wyatt (an early Blizzard employee), and Mitchell’s Mountain Top Studios.

Platform Features

The platform’s functionality is categorized into three main areas:

• Player Accounts/Social: Managing user profiles and social interactions.
• Game Loops: Handling lobbies and matchmaking processes.
• Player/Game Data: Storing and managing essential game information.

Pragma doesn’t solely rely on in-house development. In some instances, it functions as an “integrator” for existing platforms like Discord.

While the long-term goal is a fully managed solution, the current iteration is on-premise. This means Pragma installs an instance of its software on the studio’s existing infrastructure, allowing for customization.

Target Audience and Future Vision

Initially, Pragma is focusing on game studios with teams ranging from 10 to 50 members.

The company envisions expanding its reach to larger studios. It also aims to empower smaller teams – even those with just one to five people – to launch networked, online games.

Chen stated that the ultimate vision is to innovate in the social aspects of gaming. This includes creating features that enhance gameplay and foster stronger player connections.