PlayFirst secures $16.5 million funding

San Francisco-based casual game studio PlayFirst has secured $16.5 million funding in its series C financing round.

PlayFirst, which developed the highly successful Diner Dash game, will add the cash to the $10 million it secured in financing rounds A and B to accelerate their development of casual games.

“PlayFirst has a history of breaking new ground and with our introduction of virtual goods into Diner Dash we continued that trend in 2007,” said John Welch, CEO and president, PlayFirst.

“We are thrilled to have the continued support of our existing investment partners to help us grow the casual games industry into the mass-market, highly profitable business that industry insiders and analysts expect it will be.”

Peter Moran, general partner of financing round leaders DCM added: “Since its founding in 2004, PlayFirst has been a driving force in the explosive casual games industry.

“The company’s initial success with microtransactions this year has demonstrated that PlayFirst is among the smartest, savviest and most visionary companies in casual games. With a number of immediate opportunities to expand on its new business model – and their ability to create strong intellectual property like Diner Dash – PlayFirst is in position to continue its leadership role in this dynamic space.”