Ruckus Games, the game studio founded by former Gearbox and Riot Games employees, has raised $5.5 million in funding.
The Frisco, Texas-based company is building a cross-platform cooperative game built using proprietary technology and “multiple styles,” said Paul Sage, CEO of Ruckus. Ruckus is a developer-first studio that ensures every member of their team has a role to play.
The funding round was led by Transcend Fund, a gaming-focused investment fund, in partnership with aspiring gaming industry professionals. It wants to see it push the boundaries of what video games, digital media and technology can achieve.
Members at Ruckus.
The round also involved Bitkraft Ventures and 1Up Ventures. “Ruckus Games is redefining emerging multiplayer gameplay that doesn’t follow anyone’s path,” Andrew Sheppard of the Transcend Foundation said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Paul Sage, the proven studio with the creativity and talented team, to bring the vision of multi-game production to life.”
Ruckus Games was founded in August 2021 by former veteran developers of Riot Games and Ex-Gearbox. The 7-person co-founder team contributed to the creation of Borderlands intellectual property, Elder Scrolls Online, and over 25 cross-platform games with billions of dollars in revenue.
“We’re looking at doing a studio and creating the first Ruckus game,” Sage said. “We wanted the studio to move towards the mainstream of gaming, giving our developers a voice in the industry. It’s beneficial for game developers to create something unique, full of passion.”
Sage associates include Jesse McIntyre, CTO (Riot, Zenimax Online and EA Mythic); Scott Kester, art director (Ex-Gearbox); Carl Shedd, main lighting director (id, Gearbox); Keith Schuler, designer (3D Realms, Gearbox); Chris Strasz, director of gameplay and UX (NCSoft, EA, Zenimax Online, Gearbox); and Kevin Penrod, character art director (Gearbox).
Many new games will be released in the future.
Each of them is an expert in the industry with a proven track record in creating top-quality experiences. They also deeply understand the value of a developer-first studio culture. “For us, this means a lot. It is an opportunity for Ruckus to contribute creatively to the game in order to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves.
Sage says the new game will be an “action shooter,” built on top of today’s hit IPs. The team also promises to create heroes that are loved by gamers with 3A-class graphics.
