Azra Games Raises $15 Million In Seed Round Led By a16z And NFX
Azra Games, a blockchain games company dedicated to building collectible and combat RPGs for the web3 era, has raised $15M in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz (from both their games fund and crypto fund).
Other investors who participated in the round included NFX, Coinbase Ventures, Play Ventures and Franklin Templeton. Azra Games creates immersive game universes, with specialized in-game economies and virtual collectibles, powered by web3 technology.
The seed funding will be used to accelerate development on Azra’s first game – an epic, sci-fi/fantasy collectibles and mass combat RPG code-named Project Arcanas.
Mark Otero, Founder & CEO of Azra Games, said:
“As a kid, I spent countless hours role playing with all of my different toys. At Azra, we are making a game to recreate this joy, to re-engage adults’ imaginations once again with the ultimate collectibles fantasy, combined with the ultimate fast-paced mix-and-match combat that is accessible yet deeply strategic. Imagine role playing giant monsters, robots and creatures, and leading your favorite heroes and villains to battle – and on top of satisfying game sessions, a vibrant marketplace and a sustainable economy based on real value that only web3 can unlock to deliver the most compelling and complete play experience.”
Founded by veteran game designer Mark Otero, best known for Electronic Arts’ top grossing Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, and respected entrepreneurs Sonny Mayugba and Travis Boudreaux, Azra Games is re-imagining the delights of collecting toys and limited edition items through a dedicated NFT ecosystem. Azra’s first game will be prolific gamemaker Otero’s ninth in collectible and combat RPGs, as he is joined by a veteran game team with a deep history in the genre.
Jonathan Lai, General Partner at a16z, commented:
“CEO Mark Otero is a seasoned game director who was at the forefront of mobile free-to-play games with the hit franchise Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes. We’re excited to partner with Mark and the Azra team as they apply their expertise to web3 games in creating new types of gameplay and economy design.”
Gigi Levy Weiss, NFX General Partner, said:
“We are incredibly impressed by what the team is building. I believe Azra will be the leader in blending amazing gameplay with digital ownership, offering ultimate value and entertainment to players.”
Azra Games’ backers represent selective and successful key figures across games and crypto companies and investors and also include industry luminaries like YGG co-founder Gabby Dizon, Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, and Dapper Labs co-founder Roham Gharegozlou.
