VR sport studio Vinci Video games raises $5.1M in seed funding
April 21, 2023 – Vinci Games, a digital actuality (VR) sport studio, has not too long ago introduced that it has raised USD $5.1 million in a seed funding spherical led by Makers Fund, with participation from Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Pioneer Fund, Anorak Ventures, BonAngels, and Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.
Vinci Video games was based by CEO Nathaniel Ventura, previously at Oculus, and CTO Maciej Szcześnik, former lead sport designer of The Witcher collection at CD Projekt Crimson. The funds raised can be used to help the event of the studio’s first sport, the aggressive, socially pushed VR basketball expertise ‘Blacktop Hoops.’
Blacktop Hoops is an arcade VR basketball sport that brings genuine and fast-paced aggressive streetball into the digital world. In response to the corporate, it options the intuitive dribbling, dunking, and capturing basketball mechanics particularly designed for VR, permitting gamers to expertise the joy of streetball with full-body avatars and immersive environments.
“We’re excited to construct the following era of aggressive sports activities in digital actuality,” mentioned Nathaniel Ventura, CEO, Vinci Video games. “This spherical of funding helps us develop our crew and construct new groundbreaking options and content material pushing the boundaries of VR. Blacktop Hoops has been designed from the bottom as much as be simply accessible for informal gamers with a excessive talent cap for aggressive gamers; it’s extraordinarily simple to select up however tough to grasp.”
Along with the funding announcement, Vinci Video games has additionally launched an open beta that introduces the primary downloadable content material for Blacktop Hoops with the ‘Rising Legends’ pack. It brings 5 bosses for gamers to face off towards, impressed by real-world streetball legends.
“We’ve constructed probably the most cutting-edge AI programs for a VR sports activities title with tons of of motion-captured animations and adaptive AI that reply to the way you play,” mentioned Maciej Szcześnik, CTO, Vinci Video games. “You’re feeling identical to a professional baller going toe-to-toe towards world-class basketball gamers.” The corporate added that the obtain bundle additionally provides gamers new customization options reminiscent of emotes, customized courts and dunk explosions.
For multiplayer, the beta additionally affords fast-paced aggressive and informal 1vs1, 2vs2, 3vs3, and 4vs4 matches. Since its Alpha launch, Blacktop Hoops has risen up the charts to turn out to be the second hottest app on App Lab with a 4.9 ranking and over 9,000 evaluations, and a 90% optimistic ranking on Steam, in keeping with Vinci Video games.
“Blacktop Hoops is exclusive in its strategy to aggressive, arcade-style basketball to VR platforms, and our funding was pushed by the Vinci Video games crew’s dedication to crafting a singular basketball gameplay expertise and imaginative and prescient to develop probably the most immersive, social and, above all else, enjoyable digital expertise doable,” mentioned Gregory Gunadi, Makers Fund. “Vinci Video games has assembled a world-class crew with deep expertise in VR and video games, and we stay up for supporting them as they proceed to develop the participant group looking for new aggressive sports-based challenges in VR.”
Blacktop Hoops is now obtainable at no cost beta entry on Quest App Lab and Steam. For extra info, take a look at blacktophoopsvr.com.
Picture / video credit score: Vinci Video games
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in analysis and report writing, he has been masking XR business information for the previous 5 years.
