Forge, the groundbreaking platform designed to link and reward gamers based on their achievements, has officially entered its beta phase. The company disclosed a hefty $11 million seed funding round led by renowned names in the gaming and tech industry—Makers Fund, BITKRAFT Ventures, and Animoca Brands. The investment pool also features Hashkey Capital, Polygon Ventures, Formless Capital, and Adaverse, along with Forge’s pre-existing backers like Griffin Gaming Partners, Riot Games, and Sony Innovation Fund.
The masterminds behind Forge are no strangers to the gaming community. Dennis “Thresh” Fong, Crunchyroll founder Kun Gao, and Cyence founder George Ng teamed up to bring this gamer-centric platform to life. Originating as a spinoff from GGWP, an AI-powered game moderation platform, Forge aims to revolutionize how gamers perceive value in their gaming profiles.
Co-founder Kun Gao expressed the company’s mission, stating, “We wanted to give gamers real rewards for their passion, engagement, and community participation.” And the beta launch is already promising, featuring a lineup of multiple games and partners eager to enhance their communities through Forge.
Forge’s Season Pass and Rewards Mechanics
Gamers can link their diverse gaming accounts to curate a Forge profile that reflects their unique gaming history. Players can also complete seasonal quests to earn XP and level up their Season Pass, giving them access to various in-game rewards. The reward inventory includes everything from cosmetics and item/character unlocks to virtual currency and early beta access. Additionally, beta participants have a chance to snag weekly bonus rewards ranging from Amazon gift cards to top-tier gaming PCs.
Investing in Forge: Stakeholder Insights
Makers Fund partner Andrew Willson is optimistic about Forge’s potential impact on the gaming ecosystem, applauding the founding trio’s “passion, impact-orientation, and deep player understanding.” BITKRAFT Ventures’ Carlos Pereira praised Forge’s unique approach to community growth, citing it as a “catalyst for the next generation of player engagement.” Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, lauded Forge’s authenticity in connecting game developers with genuinely interested gamers.
Game Partnerships for Launch Week
Forge has already initiated partnerships with titles like Genopets, Mojo Melee, Pixelmon, Portal Fantasy, Rushdown Revolt, and The Sandbox. The list will continue to grow throughout the beta phase, inviting more gamers and community members to reap the rewards.
