The investment includes a balance of developer control and investor returns and allows developers to own IP.
Early-stage venture capital fund Blue Ocean Games has launched a $30m fund to invest in the next generation of indie game developers.
Backed by South Korean video game company Krafton, the new fund will support 100 early-stage indie game developers over three years.
Blue Ocean Games aims to discover and encourage promising indie developers that fall outside traditional investment criteria. A dearth of early-stage funding is one of the biggest challenges for these games developers.
“Beyond simply filling a funding gap, we are trying to reimagine the ecosystem itself. By aligning player demand with developer passion through community validation and reliable funding, our goal is to create an environment where mutual benefits naturally drive success and growth,” Damian Lee, founder and managing partner of Blue Ocean Games, and former head of investments at Krafton, said in a release.
“This isn’t just about picking winners, it’s about expanding the playing field so that more visions can become reality.”
The fund uses an investment instrument called SAIL (Structured Agreement for Indie Launch) to support developers, providing investment from the concept stage and funding of $100,000 per developer (up to $300,000 per team) disbursed over two years.
The concept also includes market-validation milestones rather than subjective checkpoints, a hybrid equity and revenue share agreement that balances developer control with investor returns and developers’ retention of IP ownership.
The fund will also provide practical support including incorporation assistance, bookkeeping and mentorship from industry veterans.
