Gaming startups in London

Sir Ian Livingstone, Luke Alvarez & Cherry Freeman" **venue:** Cannon Street, City of London **la:** 51.5115 **ln:** -0.0918 **desc:** A UK/Luxembourg VC (London office) investing in Games, Esports, Digital Sports, Creative AI, Spatial Computing and Metaverse. Co-founded by Games Workshop's Sir Ian Livingstone; Sir Nick Clegg joined the Hiro III fund. Raised $110M (2019) and $340M (2022) funds. **link:** https://hiro.capital/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** VC (investor) 21.

A UK/Luxembourg VC (London office) investing in Games, Esports, Digital Sports, Creative AI, Spatial Computing and Metaverse. Co-founded by Games Workshop's Sir Ian Livingstone; Sir Nick Clegg joined the Hir...

Shaun Rutland, Sean Turner & Will Whitaker" **venue:** Shoreditch, London **la:** 51.5265 **ln:** -0.0780 **desc:** Founded 2011, a free-to-play mobile racing specialist with F1 Manager, Top Drives and Rebel Racing — 300M+ downloads. Secured brand licenses with F1, Forza and NASCAR (NASCAR Manager launched Feb 2024). Acquired by Modern Times Group (MTG) in Dec 2020 at a $275M–$375M valuation. NOTE: London-HQ'd but MTG-owned. **link:** https://www.hutch.io/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Acquired (MTG, 2020) 4.

Founded 2011, a free-to-play mobile racing specialist with F1 Manager, Top Drives and Rebel Racing — 300M+ downloads. Secured brand licenses with F1, Forza and NASCAR (NASCAR Manager launched Feb 2024). Acqu...

Herman Narula & Rob Whitehead" **venue:** Farringdon, London **la:** 51.5205 **ln:** -0.1050 **desc:** Founded 2012 by two Cambridge computer-science grads, Improbable builds large-scale simulation and metaverse infrastructure (originally SpatialOS). It is the highest-funded gaming company in London, having raised roughly $932M+. Now focused on metaverse/"MSquared" web3 worlds and large multiplayer events. **link:** https://www.improbable.io/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Late-stage / growth (raised ~$900M+) 2.

Founded 2012 by two Cambridge computer-science grads, Improbable builds large-scale simulation and metaverse infrastructure (originally SpatialOS). It is the highest-funded gaming company in London, having r...

Riccardo Zacconi, Sebastian Knutsson, Toby Rowland & others" **venue:** Soho, London (dual with Stockholm) **la:** 51.5152 **ln:** -0.1436 **desc:** Founded 2003; creator of Candy Crush Saga (2012). Major London studio presence (Ampersand Building, Soho) alongside Stockholm. Acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016 for $5.9B; now under Microsoft. NOTE: HQ is dual Stockholm/London and Microsoft-owned — include as London creative-gaming anchor with flag, not an independent London HQ. **link:** https://www.king.com/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Acquired (Microsoft/Activision) --- ## Creative AI, media & content 7.

Founded 2003; creator of Candy Crush Saga (2012). Major London studio presence (Ampersand Building, Soho) alongside Stockholm. Acquired by Activision Blizzard in 2016 for $5.9B; now under Microsoft. NOTE: HQ...

David Gardner, David Lau-Kee & Paul Heydon" **venue:** London **la:** 51.5074 **ln:** -0.1400 **desc:** One of the earliest games-only seed VCs, HQ'd in London, backing game-ecosystem companies (early investors in Supercell, Unity, Playfish and others). A cornerstone of London's games-financing scene. **link:** https://www.londonvp.com/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** VC (seed investor) --- ## HQ flags / exclusions - **nDreams** (VR studio, Fall of the Machines / Ghostbusters VR) — HQ is **Farnborough, Hampshire** (studios also Brighton), NOT London. EXCLUDED. - **Nexxen** (formerly Tremor International) — NYC-HQ'd, publicly traded. Excluded from London list. - **King / Mediatonic / Hutch / Space Ape** — retained as London creative-gaming anchors but flagged: acquired-away / non-independent HQ (Microsoft, Epic, MTG, Supercell respectively). - **ROLI** — flagged: original entity entered administration 2024; relaunched by founder, still London-based.

One of the earliest games-only seed VCs, HQ'd in London, backing game-ecosystem companies (early investors in Supercell, Unity, Playfish and others). A cornerstone of London's games-financing scene. **li...

Dave Bailey & Paul Croft" **venue:** Southwark, London **la:** 51.5035 **ln:** -0.0905 **desc:** Founded 2005 by two Brunel University students; became a London flagship studio behind the 2020 breakout hit Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (~$130M revenue in month one). Acquired by Epic Games (via parent Tonic Games Group) in March 2021. NOTE: London studio but now Epic-owned, not independently HQ'd. **link:** https://mediatonicgames.com/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Acquired (Epic Games, 2021) 3.

Founded 2005 by two Brunel University students; became a London flagship studio behind the 2020 breakout hit Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (~$130M revenue in month one). Acquired by Epic Games (via parent Ton...

Harvey Elliott (CEO)" **venue:** Soho, London **la:** 51.5145 **ln:** -0.1350 **desc:** Founded 2016, a London indie games label/publisher. Started in mobile, pivoted to PC/console publishing from 2020, and had a 2024–25 breakout with the horror hit and casual titles like Text Express. Invested €1.5M into French studio 8SEC. Independent London-HQ'd publisher. **link:** https://www.playstack.com/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Independent / growth 6.

Founded 2016, a London indie games label/publisher. Started in mobile, pivoted to PC/console publishing from 2020, and had a 2024–25 breakout with the horror hit and casual titles like Text Express. Invested...

John Earner, Simon Hade & others" **venue:** Kentish Town, London **la:** 51.5416 **ln:** -0.1430 **desc:** Founded 2012, a London mobile-games studio (Fastlane, Beatstar, Transformers: Earth Wars). Supercell took a majority stake in 2017 and fully acquired the studio thereafter. NOTE: London studio, now Supercell-owned. **link:** https://www.spaceapegames.com/ **vertical:** ["Gaming"] **stage:** Acquired (Supercell) 5.

Founded 2012, a London mobile-games studio (Fastlane, Beatstar, Transformers: Earth Wars). Supercell took a majority stake in 2017 and fully acquired the studio thereafter. NOTE: London studio, now Supercell...