Rumble Entertainment, a US-based publisher of multiplatform free-to-play (F2P) video games, has closed a $17.5m series B round of financing led by strategic partner Nexon, a Japan and South Korea-based publisher of F2P online games; also participating were venture capital firm TriplePoint Capital, Google Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of internet search firm Google, venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, and additional strategic investors.
The B round brings Rumble’s total funding to date to over $35 million. Previously, in December 2011, Rumble closed a $15m series A round led by Khosla Ventures with backing from Google Ventures.
Rumble will use the financing and strategic relationships to fuel growth and expand its portfolio of games.
Greg Richardson, founder and chief executive officer of Rumble Entertainment, said: “We are inspired by Nexon’s leadership in merging the free-to-play model with more immersive gameplay experiences. Welcoming Nexon as a financial and strategic partner allows us to capitalize on their global market presence and free-to-play expertise, enabling a unique opportunity for us to build global franchises that redefine the video game experience on digital platforms.”
Owen Mahoney, chief financial officer of Nexon, said: “As a first-mover in the West, Rumble is at the forefront of the industry’s evolution to free-to-play. As a developer and publisher of high-quality, immersive F2P games that are both synchronously multiplayer and fully playable across mobile devices and in PC browsers, Rumble delivers unique and compelling offerings to the market.”
Nexon was founded in Korea in 1994.