Creativerse developer Playful Corp raises $25m

Playful Corp, founded by former Words With Friends developers, has raised $25 million in a new funding round from a group of private investors.

The studio was founded in January 2013 and previously received $8 million in investment. It aims to use its latest funding round to develop new original IP and expand its team. Playful currently has 17 vacancies open at the company across production, engineering, art and design roles.

The developer is currently working on Steam Early Access sandbox adventure game Creativerse. It’s also developing virtual reality title Lucky’s Take, which will launch on the Oculus Rift next year.

"We’re inspired by Snow White, by Toy Story, by Mario," said Playful CEO and founder Paul Bettner.

"These beloved stories and characters share something in common: technology made them possible. Motion pictures, CG characters, interactive video games — these advances enabled fundamentally new levels of empathy and audience connection. We founded Playful to carry on this tradition."