VCs team up with creators amid games funding pullback

Games venture capital funds have been dealt a challenging hand amid broader market turmoil over the last 18 months. After placing many (potentially inflated) bets in 2021 and 2022, funds are on the hunt for returns. The venture-backed games industry is looking for ways to stack the deck in their favor. Increasingly, gaming funds are looking to content creators to give themselves a strategic advantage when evaluating prospective investments.

Some gaming-focused venture funds like a16z Games are formalizing these venture partner-style relationships with dedicated creator programs. Others, like 1AM Gaming are building informal relationships with creators through specific investments.