9 Lives Interactive has raised $3 million for Nyan Heroes, a Web3 hero shooter.
Singapore-based 9 Lives Interactive, formerly known as Rude Robot Studios, said the funding round was led by Mechanism Capital.
The investment will fuel the development of the studio’s debut title, Nyan Heroes, a hero shooter game that combines unique gameplay mechanics with cat-inspired characters and blockchain technology to target mass adoption.
Other investors include Sfermion, 3Commas Capital, Momentum 6, Kosmos Ventures, Devmons GG and CSP DAO.
Founded in 2021, the award-winning team at 9 Lives Interactive comprises industry veterans from prominent studios like Electronic Arts, Bungie, and Ubisoft.
Senior advisors from Riot Games and Twitch contribute to the team’s collective experience, which includes developing triple-A multiplayer shooter and live service titles such as Halo, Destiny, Fortnite, Marvel’s Avengers, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.
Max Fu, creative director and CEO of 9 Lives Interactive, said in a statement, “Our goal is to create a flagship IP-driven shooter that delivers an immersive experience to team-based shooter fans of all ages and genders. Nyan Heroes features bleeding-edge technology, including the capabilities of the Unreal 5 engine and blockchain, to support true asset ownership in a thriving creator economy.”
Nyan Heroes, currently in pre-alpha testing, introduces a team-based, objective hero-shooter with whimsical cats piloting powerful mechs in competitive battles to save the world.
The game offers eight guardian classes, each with unique abilities and agile, feline-inspired movement to secure objectives and defeat opponents. The “augment weapon” system allows highly customizable mechs, offering a broad range of play styles and opportunities for players to showcase their skills.
The game unfolds in the underground civilization of New Nekovia, a vibrant city teeming with optimism and holographic skies. Nyan Heroes, already amassing a significant social following, is set for early access from March 26 to April 9.
Andrew Cain from Mechanism Capital said in a statement, “Nyan Heroes is a show-stopping hero-shooter that brings fresh gameplay, charming heroes, and rewarding incentives to the genre in a way that has never been done before.”
Nyan Heroes is currently available for early access on the Epic Games Store, and the game has introduced Airdrop missions, allowing the community to access NYAN, the token that powers the Nyan Heroes Ecosystem.