funding Archives

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Bithell Games laying off 11 staff

Bithell Games is reducing its workforce by parting ways with 11 employees due to difficulties in securing new projects. This decision follows the launch of their title, Tron: Catalyst, in June. Founder Mike Bithell highlighted the challenges faced by smaller studios in finding financial backing for future projects. He emphasized communication with affected staff and offered severance packages to ease the impact of the layoffs. Bithell praised the skills of his team and encouraged other developers to consider the laid-off employees for future opportunities. Despite the layoffs, the studio's existing self-published games will remain available, and ongoing support for them will continue.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

Latest Humble bundle contains some of the best PC titles from WB Games

Humble has released a refreshed version of its WB Play the Legends collection, featuring two pricing tiers. The first tier, priced at £5.24 / 6€, includes seven games, such as Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY and Batman: Arkham City GOTY. The second tier, priced at £8.98 / 10.28€, includes 16 games, featuring Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition and Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition. The bundle is available until August 27 and proceeds will benefit the Raiden Science Foundation, which funds research into rare pediatric illnesses.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Gamescom Asia is joining with the Thailand Game Show this year, and Dead Space creator Glen Schofield will keynote

Gamescom will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 16 to 19, 2025, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in collaboration with the Thailand Game Show. Major gaming companies such as Bandai Namco, Capcom, Ubisoft, Xbox, and Razer will participate. Glen Schofield, creator of the Dead Space franchise, will give a keynote presentation. Smaller developers like Toge Productions, Super Evil Megacorp, and HoYoverse will also be featured. The public segment will include live tournaments, meet-and-greet sessions, the Thailand Game Award proceedings, a cosplay contest, and various live performances and gaming challenges. Tickets will go on sale starting September 1.

AppWizard

August 4, 2025

FPS legend John Romero says Wolfenstein 3D was the first game id Software took its time with⁠—a luxurious 4-month development instead of just 2

John Romero discussed the early 1990s transformation of PC gaming during a Nightdive Studios podcast, highlighting id Software's rapid development cycles and innovative technology. He noted that John Carmack's programming breakthroughs in September 1990 were pivotal, and that id Software's initial pitch to Nintendo for a Super Mario 3 port was rejected, leading to the creation of Commander Keen. In 1991, id released three Commander Keen sequels and Catacomb 3D. Romero emphasized a shift in development practices with Wolfenstein 3D, allowing for a four-month development period focused on quality. He contrasted the simpler processes of that time with today's complex game development landscape. Additionally, he mentioned the rise of the hunting game genre and the potential of indie developers, while noting that Romero Games is seeking a new publisher after Microsoft withdrew funding for a triple-A shooter project.

Winsage

August 1, 2025

Windows 10: Six essential steps IT teams should take over the next two months

Businesses are facing a deadline for Windows 10's end-of-support in October, prompting a shift to Windows 11, which currently holds a 54.7% market share compared to Windows 10's 43.8%. Over 40% of Windows desktops are nearing their end of life, exposing organizations to operational and compliance risks. The migration to Windows 11 involves challenges, and organizations are advised to follow six steps: 1. Conduct a comprehensive audit of devices using Windows 10. 2. Secure necessary funding for the transition. 3. Recognize that smaller organizations may adapt more quickly than larger ones. 4. Communicate the importance of the transition to all levels of the organization. 5. Develop a structured plan that includes testing and user feedback. 6. Implement the migration process by the deadline, ensuring proper onboarding and training for employees.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

King’s launches messaging app for families with premature babies

A new video messaging app has been launched at King’s College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital to support families with premature infants. Funded by King’s College Hospital Charity, it allows staff in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to send secure photo and video updates to families. The app helps families see their babies during play, therapy sessions, baths, and feeding times, even when they are not present. Since its launch in June 2025, it has enabled parents to ask questions and receive updates on their baby's progress. The app aims to alleviate separation anxiety and strengthen emotional bonds. Additionally, a child-friendly app called Little Journey was launched in May 2025 for NICU patients at Lister Hospital, adapted to support families during neonatal care.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

‘Maybe I’ve directed my last game,’ Dead Space creator Glen Schofield says after being unable to secure funding for his new project: ‘With the industry on pause, AAA feels like it’s a long ways away’

Glen Schofield, a veteran in the video game industry, has announced his decision to step away from game direction after struggling to secure funding for a new horror project he had been developing for eight months. Despite assembling a talented team and setting a budget, he faced challenges due to the industry's shift towards higher share prices and artificial intelligence solutions. Schofield's previous title, The Callisto Protocol, did not meet expectations, leading to financial repercussions for its publisher and layoffs at his studio. He expressed a desire to return to his artistic roots while reflecting on the stagnant state of the industry. His daughter, Nicole, who contributed the original idea for the halted project, was also part of the team.

AppWizard

July 26, 2025

How Mycopunk’s devs turned a school project with zero funding into a ‘Very Positive’ Steam launch: ‘We wanted to make our own dream version of Deep Rock or Helldivers’

Modeler Ryan Yan and creative director Liam Cribbs presented their school project, Mycopunk, to potential publishers at GDC 2024. Mycopunk is a co-op first-person shooter where players act as robot exterminators combating a fungal infection on a planet. The game, developed over nine months by students from NYU, recently launched in early access under Devolver Digital. The team, known as Pigeons at Play, believes in the potential of student-led projects and encourages students to pitch games with a solid plan and a fun demo.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Surgent Studios unveils Dead Take live-action horror game for the PC

Abubakar Salim is the founder of Surgent Studios and the creative director of the upcoming live-action horror game, Dead Take, which will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 31. Surgent Studios, established in 2019, previously released the side-scrolling Metroidvania game Tales of Kenzara: Zau in April 2024, which did not achieve commercial success. Following funding issues for a project called Project Uso, the studio faced layoffs in July 2024. In January 2025, Surgent Studios secured funding from Pocketpair Publishing, allowing them to focus on Dead Take, inspired by Salim's experiences in the entertainment industry. Dead Take features a live-action film-like aesthetic created with Unreal Engine 5 and follows an actor named Chase Lowry, who searches for his missing friend in a mansion reminiscent of horror classics. The gameplay includes escape-room-style puzzles and fragmented video files revealing Hollywood's unsettling truths. The game explores themes of ambition and betrayal, with a cast that includes Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and Alanah Pearce, along with cameos from industry veterans. Salim emphasizes psychological horror over graphic violence, focusing on the emotional challenges within the industry. Players are encouraged to engage with the game using pen and paper and headphones for a richer experience.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Crypto Messaging App Ephemera Bags $20M Series B at $300M Valuation

Ephemera, a blockchain-based messaging platform, secured million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Union Square Ventures, A16z Crypto, and Lightspeed Faction, achieving a valuation of 0 million. The round included participation from Coinbase, Sound Ventures, and actor Ashton Kutcher. The funding was structured as equity with token warrants, and Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures joined Ephemera’s board. The platform is developed by the creators of XMTP, a decentralized messaging network utilizing IETF-standard Messaging Layer Security, which is trusted by companies like Mozilla, Google, Wire, and Cisco. XMTP aims to allow users to transfer conversations between different messaging apps, addressing concerns about centralization and user ownership of messages.