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Vela Games is a technology company.
Vela Games develops online multiplayer experiences, notably their flagship title, Evercore Heroes. This competitive PvE game tasks four teams of four heroes with defeating an epic boss. Gameplay emphasizes individual skill, team coordination, and strategic adaptation, challenging players to navigate dynamic environments and outmaneuver rivals in real-time.
The studio was co-founded in 2018 by industry veterans Travis George, Brian Kaiser, and Lisa Newon George. Drawing on experience from Riot Games and Electronic Arts, their insight was to create innovative multiplayer genres. They aimed to blend cooperative gameplay with competitive challenges, crafting novel interactive experiences.
Vela Games targets a global audience seeking engaging, skill-based competitive play. Operating with a "Players First" philosophy, they prioritize player enjoyment and community building. Their vision is to unite and inspire players worldwide through evolving game worlds, fostering collaboration and intense, fun competition.
Vela Games has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Vela Games has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vela Games is a Dublin-based independent game studio specializing in cooperative multiplayer games, particularly in the Multiplayer Online Co-Operative (MOCO) genre. The company develops *Evercore Heroes*, a real-time, skill-based competitive PvE game where teams of four players coordinate to battle bosses, level up characters, and compete against rival teams in a dungeon-crawling experience powered by Unreal Engine.[1][2][3][4] It serves gamers seeking positive, approachable online multiplayer experiences that emphasize teamwork over toxicity, solving the problem of intimidating competitive gaming communities by fostering coordination, growth mindset, and fun through player-first design.[2][4] With $17.3M in funding, including a 2021 investment from Novator, Vela has grown from 12 to 50 employees, achieving milestones like a closed beta launch in June 2022 and leveraging AWS for 60% faster build times to accelerate development.[3][4][6]
Vela Games was founded in 2017 or 2018 by former Riot Games developers, including co-founder Travis George, who drew inspiration from MOBAs like *League of Legends* but pivoted to create cooperative alternatives.[2][6] Based in Dublin, Ireland, at 45 Blackburne Square, the studio emerged from a vision to build friendlier multiplayer games amid frustrations with toxic online communities.[2][4] Early traction came from assembling a world-class team and securing funding, including Novator's 2021 investment, enabling rapid growth to 50 employees and development of *Project V* (later *Evercore Heroes*), which entered closed beta in 2022.[1][3][4][6] Pivotal moments include adopting AWS infrastructure for scalable development and unveiling the game at industry events, emphasizing iteration and player feedback from day one.[3][4]
Vela Games rides the wave of cooperative gaming trends, capitalizing on post-pandemic demand for social, non-toxic multiplayer amid MOBAs' dominance and industry burnout from hyper-competitive titles.[2] Timing aligns with cloud gaming's rise—leveraging AWS for efficient scaling—and a shift toward PvE experiences that retain players longer through teamwork, as seen in successes like *Destiny 2* or *Helldivers 2*.[3] Market forces like AR/VR growth, hybrid workforces, and investor interest in indie studios (e.g., Novator's backing) favor Vela's model, influencing the ecosystem by pioneering MOCO genres and promoting healthier online communities via deliberate design.[1][2][5] As gaming firms like Riot lay off staff, independents like Vela demonstrate resilience through focused innovation and player retention.[2]
Vela Games is poised for expansion with *Evercore Heroes* potentially launching post-beta, targeting global gamers via PC/console platforms and building on AWS efficiencies for cross-play scalability.[3][4] Trends like AI-driven personalization, metaverse co-op, and esports for teams (not solos) will shape its path, amplifying influence as a antidote to toxic gaming. Expect partnerships, sequels in MOCO, and ecosystem impact through talent attraction—proving that player-first studios like Vela can thrive independently, uniting gamers as promised from their Dublin origins.[2][4]
Vela Games has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vela Games's investors include London Venture Partners, IIU.
Vela Games has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in April 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2020 | $3.0M Seed | London Venture Partners | IIU |