Moon Beast Productions has successfully secured .5 million in seed funding, a significant boost for the studio as it embarks on its journey to innovate within the action RPG genre. This investment round was spearheaded by 1AM Gaming, with notable participation from 1UP Ventures, The Mini Fund, Overwolf, Versus Ventures, and various angel investors.
Innovative Vision and Experienced Leadership
The funds will be directed towards the development of a new action RPG title that promises to challenge conventional design paradigms. Founded in March 2022 by industry veterans Peter Hu and Phil Shenk, both of whom were instrumental in the creation of Diablo 2, Moon Beast Productions is poised to make its mark in the gaming landscape. The studio welcomed Diablo 2 co-creator Erich Schaefer as its chief creative officer the following year, further strengthening its leadership team.
In a statement reflecting on the current funding climate, Hu expressed gratitude for the support received: “In today’s challenging funding environment, we’re incredibly fortunate to have investors who understand our vision.” He elaborated on the studio’s philosophy, emphasizing a commitment to efficiency: “Our approach has always been about working smarter, not just harder. We’re building reusable, data-driven systems that allow us to iterate rapidly and create more with less.”
Shenk echoed this sentiment, highlighting the studio’s dedication to innovation: “We’ve never been content to follow the crowd. Throughout our careers, we’ve always pushed to redefine genres.” He reminisced about their pivotal role in the inception of action RPGs, stating, “We were there at the start, helping to invent ARPGs with Diablo and Diablo 2. In the years following, from Hellgate: London to Torchlight, and Marvel Heroes Online, we’ve consistently sought to expand what players expect from the genre.”
With a clear vision and a robust financial backing, Moon Beast Productions is set to embark on an exciting chapter, one that promises to reshape the expectations of action RPG enthusiasts worldwide.
