Trion Worlds wins $85m investment

Up-and-coming MMO specialist Trion Worlds has received a massive financial boost towards the company’s ongoing expansion.

The publisher secured $85 million from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and current investor Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments.

"We are thrilled about entering this exciting period of growth and scale with our investors," said Trion Worlds’ founder and CEO Lars Buttler.

"Backing from a stalwart long-term investor such as Teachers’, which has the experience and structure to support our vision, and the expanded relationship with our current stakeholder and great supporter, BDMI, is a massive endorsement for Trion."

Trion Worlds released its first game, Rift, in March 2011. The MMORPG has since generated revenues of more than $100m in North America and Europe.

The company will release its second title, an MMORTS entitled End of Nations later this year. It is also working with Syfy on an ambitious action MMO Defiance, which will merge the worlds of TV and video games.

Meanwhile, Trion is working on a new technology platform, code-named Red Door, that will host games for the publisher’s partners.