Pahdo Labs, the developer of the forthcoming anime action role-playing game (RPG) “Halcyon Zero,” has successfully secured $15 million in a Series A funding round.
Leading this round was the well-known investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). This funding signifies a16z’s growing interest in the intersections of gaming, artificial intelligence, and the ever-popular world of anime.
One of the distinctive features of Halcyon Zero is its unique proposition that extends beyond just gameplay. The game will equip players with advanced generative AI tools, enabling them to effortlessly craft their individual game worlds. This initiative by Pahdo Labs resonates with Andreessen Horowitz’s vision, as outlined by their general partner, Jon Lai. In a series of tweets, Lai shared that Pahdo’s intent was to offer creative platforms for players, allowing them to forge their very own anime-themed games, supercharged with AI and procedural generation.
Lai also underscored the rising appeal of anime-influenced games, diverging from the typically realistic visuals of current major games. He referenced the globally acclaimed game, “Genshin Impact”, which since 2020 has amassed over $3 billion in earnings. With anime viewership escalating on streaming platforms and the rise in “vtuber” popularity, the anime realm is booming.
About Pahdo Labs
Initiated in 2021 and headquartered in New York, Pahdo Labs champions the ethos of crafting games that grant players the agency to leave a tangible mark in a communal virtual space. Their mission, as articulated on their official website, reflects this sentiment. While Pahdo Labs remained tight-lipped about other investors in this funding round, data from Crunchbase indicates that firms such as BoxGroup, Long Journey Ventures, PearVC, and 2 Punks Capital joined in.