Bazooka Tango secures $5M funding to revitalize ‘Shardbound’ as an NFT game
Bazooka Tango, a game studio formed by veterans of Vainglory, a fantasy MOBA game, has announced a major financial boost. The studio recently secured $5 million in funding led by Bitkraft Ventures. This funding round, announced on Thursday, also saw participation from RW3 Ventures, Sfermion, and 1Up Ventures.
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Reviving Shardbound
The investment aims to revitalize Shardbound, an NFT trading card and turn-based RPG game. Bazooka Tango plans to use this influx of capital to expand its team and push Shardbound closer to completion. Shardbound, which is set to launch on the upcoming Immutable zkEVM network, uniquely blends NFT elements with strategic gameplay.
Bo Daly, Bazooka Tango’s CEO, expressed his satisfaction with the funding, especially considering the current venture capital climate. He emphasized the importance of team expansion in critical disciplines to launch and grow the Shardbound universe successfully.
“Amid an incredibly challenging year for VC funding, it speaks volumes to the quality of our games,”
Bo Daly
Trading card game with RPG elements
Shardbound combines the mechanics of a trading card game with a turn-based player-versus-player RPG. Players engage by strategically placing characters on a colorful tiled board.
However, Shardbound’s journey has been fraught with challenges. Originally developed by Spiritwalk Games, the game only reached early access and had many unfinished art assets. The indie developers managed to raise about $150,000 through Kickstarter in 2017, but it was insufficient to complete the game. Bazooka Tango’s acquisition and revival of Shardbound was first announced in March.
Bazooka Tango’s star studded team
With the new funding, Shardbound now has the resources to see its development through to completion. Bazooka Tango has been fortifying its team with executives from leading gaming companies like Apple, Disney, and Electronic Arts. Additionally, developers from renowned studios such as 2K, Sledgehammer Games, and Pocket Gems have joined the project.
The studio’s focus on hiring top talent and securing substantial funding reflects its commitment to reviving Shardbound. This move also signals Bazooka Tango’s belief in the potential of NFT games despite the fluctuating market for such ventures.
The revival of Shardbound by Bazooka Tango, leveraging substantial VC funding and a robust development team, represents a significant development in the NFT gaming space. This endeavor underscores the growing interest and investment in blockchain-based gaming, blending traditional gaming experiences with the emerging world of NFTs.
