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We formed Ruckus to create unparalleled player experiences through style, interactivity and emergence.
Ruckus Games has raised $25.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Ruckus Games has raised $25.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Ruckus Games has raised $25.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $19.0M Series A in November 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2024 | $19M Series A | — | Lightspeed Venture Partners, Transcend Fund, Eden Chen, Nate Mitchell, Ryan Wyatt | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2022 | $6M Seed | — | Lightspeed Venture Partners, Transcend Fund, Eden Chen, Nate Mitchell, Ryan Wyatt | Announced |
Ruckus Games is a fully remote AAA PC/console game development studio headquartered in Frisco, Texas, specializing in cooperative multiplayer games with emergent gameplay, stylized characters, and high player agency.[1][4][5] Founded by a 7-person team of veterans from Gearbox Software and Riot Games—who contributed to hits like Borderlands, Elder Scrolls Online, and over 25 titles grossing billions—the studio secured an oversubscribed Seed Round led by Transcend Fund, raising $19M in its most recent round for a total of $24.5M.[1][5] They build cooperative gaming experiences that blend indie creative risk-taking with AAA production values, targeting players seeking unique, passion-driven fun in a market hungry for next-gen PC/console content amid rising subscriptions like Game Pass.[1][6]
The studio serves gamers on PC and consoles, solving the shortage of high-quality co-op titles by emphasizing "stupid amounts of fun" through interactivity, humor, and explosive action in genres like third-person stylized shooters.[1][4][6] Early momentum includes their 2021 founding and rapid funding, positioning them for multi-game production with a developer-first culture that amplifies team voices.[1][5]
Ruckus Games was founded in August 2021 by a 7-person co-founding team led by CEO Paul Sage, drawing from decades of experience at Gearbox Software (Borderlands IP) and Riot Games, among others.[1][4] Key figures include Chip (UI expertise from Zenimax Online's Elder Scrolls Online and unannounced projects), Jesse (engineering lead on Elder Scrolls Online, Warhammer Online, and Riot R&D), Tim (18+ years on Elder Scrolls Online AI/systems and RTS like Command & Conquer), and Paul Sage (design on Darksiders, Overwatch, Halo, Fortnite, id Software).[4] The idea emerged from veterans wanting to infuse indie-style creative risk-taking into mainstream AAA gaming, prioritizing developer voices and player heroism in co-op experiences.[1][4]
Pivotal early traction came via Transcend Fund's lead investment in their oversubscribed Seed Round, validating their vision amid a 2016-identified gap in AAA co-op content for connected consoles and subscriptions.[1] As a developer-first, fully remote studio, they've fostered quick growth, hitting $24.5M total funding by focusing on passion projects from day one.[1][5]
Ruckus Games rides the wave of next-gen connected consoles, subscription models like Microsoft's Game Pass, and cross-platform demand, addressing a persistent AAA co-op content shortage identified as early as 2016.[1] Timing is ideal amid esports growth, multiplayer surges post-pandemic, and player cravings for stylized, emergent experiences beyond battle royales—market forces like Wi-Fi advancements and high-performance networking further enable seamless play.[1][2] They influence the ecosystem by empowering developers (bridging indie passion with AAA resources), boosting co-op innovation, and filling "shelves" for subscriptions, potentially shaping mainstream gaming toward more player-driven, fun-first titles.[1][4]
Ruckus is primed for its first title launch—a rad co-op shooter—followed by multi-game expansion, leveraging $24.5M funding and veteran firepower.[1][5][6] Trends like AI-enhanced networking, Wi-Fi 7, and subscription dominance will amplify their reach, while their developer-first model sustains momentum against big-studio consolidation.[1][2][5] Influence may evolve from niche innovator to co-op leader, humanizing AAA dev and delivering "stupid amounts of fun" that redefine player heroism—watch for pivotal reveals tying back to their passion-driven origins.[1][4][6]
Ruckus Games has raised $25.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Ruckus Games's investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners, Transcend Fund, Eden Chen, Nate Mitchell, Ryan Wyatt.
