MMX Racing mobile game developer Hutch has raised funding from new investors. And it’s also launching a major update for the game today in the form of new multiplayer capability.
The deal shows that the mobile game startup environment is going strong in the United Kingdom. London-based Hutch has raised an undisclosed amount of money from Index Ventures and Initial Capital. Ben Holmes of Index Ventures and Ken Lamb of Initial Capital will join Hutch’s board. Hutch’s flagship game, MMX Racing, has been downloaded more than 10 million times, and it is the top five ranks of the best-grossing racing games.
Shaun Rutland, chief executive of Hutch, said the addition of multiplayer represents a huge update for the game, and it took more work to pull it off than it took to make the original game.
He said the company is happy to receive advice from Index, which invested in Supercell, King, and Mind Candy; and from Initial Capital, which invested in Playfish, Supercell, Next Games, and Space Ape.
“The investment and strategic support from both Index and Initial have been enormously valuable to Hutch as we lay the foundations for a very big year ahead,” Rutland said.
Hutch was founded in 2011, and it has 30 employees, and it is still growing. Besides MMX Racing, its other games include Smash Cops and Smash Cops Heat. Rutland said the company focuses on iterating its games based on player feedback and live analytics. To date, the company’s games have been downloaded 50 million times.
Lamb said in a statement, “MMX Racing Multiplayer is an exciting step for the studio. It’s an early insight into how Hutch look at social engagement, live events, and competitions as an opportunity to widen the appeal and grossing potential of the category.”
