Ruckus Games, a new studio formed by industry veterans from Gearbox, Bethesda, and Epic Games, has raised $19 million in funding for their debut title. The game is a third-person, cooperative, session-based RPG shooter set in a “suburban invasion” scenario. Founded in 2021 in Frisco, Texas, Ruckus Games is led by CEO and game director Paul Sage, known for his work as creative director on the Borderlands franchise and Elder Scrolls Online.
The team also includes art director Scott Kester, recognized for transforming Borderlands’ aesthetic, and other co-founders from gaming giants like Riot Games, Blizzard, and Epic Games. The upcoming title will allow co-op for up to four players in an evolving world, updated with new content over time. Featuring a large roster of playable characters and thousands of unique make-shift weapon combinations, players will navigate chaotic suburban scenarios set in the nostalgic pre-cellphone American heartland.
The game’s comic-like art style adds to its unique charm. “It has that nostalgia factor of people who are interested in shows like Stranger Things, the 80s and 90s retro synth wave style,” said Devann McCarthy, senior community and public relations manager.
Funding enables co-op RPG shooter launch
To bring this ambitious vision to life, Ruckus Games previously raised $5.5 million in seed funding from Transcend Fund in 2022, which helped develop a high-quality prototype that showcased the game’s potential. The recent $19 million Series A funding round is led by Krafton, with participation from Bitkraft Ventures, Transcend, Hypergryph, and others. “We believe in the future of co-op gaming, and the Ruckus team has demonstrated incredible progress with a small team in a short period of time,” said Maria Park of Krafton, who will be joining the Ruckus board.
The team has grown to 23 members and plans to stay relatively small, under 100 developers. Ruckus Games is currently accepting applications for experienced candidates and looking for playtesters to join early on in development. “We want games where people have fun from the get-go.
Games that are physical, joyous, and just a damn good time to be shared with others. We can’t wait to show you what we have in store,” says Game Director and Ruckus Games CEO Paul Sage.
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