Quick take:
- The funding will go towards creating Azra Games’ first game named Project Arcanas.
- The blockchain games company is founded by veteran game designer, Mark Otero.
- Otero is known for leading the development of Electronic Arts’ top-grossing Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.
Blockchain games company, Azra Games, has raised $15 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with investment from a16z’s newly announced games fund and existing crypto fund.
Participants in the round included NFX, Coinbase Ventures, Play Ventures and Franklin Templeton, as well as angel investors including YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon, Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, and Dapper Labs co-founder Roham Gharegozlou.
The seed funding will accelerate the development of Azra Games’ first game — a sci-fi/fantasy collectibles and mass combat RPG code-named Project Arcanas.
The blockchain games company is founded by veteran game designer, Mark Otero, along with Capital Games entrepreneurs Sonny Mayugba and Travis Boudreaux. Otero is best known for leading the development of Electronic Arts’ top-grossing Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, which hit 100 million downloads last year.
Azra Games will create immersive game universes, with specialised in-game economies and virtual collectibles, powered by Web3 technology.
“As a kid, I spent countless hours role playing with all of my different toys,” said Mark Otero, Founder & CEO, Azra Games. “At Azra, we are making a game to recreate this joy, to re-engage adults’ imaginations once again with the ultimate collectibles fantasy, combined with the ultimate fast-paced mix-and-match combat that is accessible yet deeply strategic. Imagine role playing giant monsters, robots and creatures, and leading your favorite heroes and villains to battle – and on top of satisfying game sessions, a vibrant marketplace and a sustainable economy based on real value that only web3 can unlock to deliver the most compelling and complete play experience.”
Azra Games said it is reimagining the delights of collecting toys and limited edition items through a dedicated NFT ecosystem. The company’s first game will be Otero’s ninth in collectible and combat RPGs, as he is joined by a veteran game team with a deep history in the genre.
“CEO Mark Otero is a seasoned game director who was at the forefront of mobile free-to-play games with the hit franchise Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes,” said Jonathan Lai, General Partner, a16z. “We’re excited to partner with Mark and the Azra team as they apply their expertise to web3 games in creating new types of gameplay and economy design.”
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