Arbitrum Gaming Ventures (previously known as The Gaming Catalyst), a $200 million ARB initiative to accelerate gaming and entertainment on Arbitrum, announced the first cohort of investments and grants, made along with VCs including Paradigm, Framework, and BITKRAFT.
This first investment tranche, representing a commitment of $10+ million in capital, supports a cohort of experienced founders, innovative distribution models, and the development of gaming content across genres and geographies.
This first investment cohort comprises game development, publishing platforms, and infrastructure across AAA experiences, social, and casual categories. These include:
1.) Wildcard – A 2v2 collectible card action game (ccag) from proven founders, Paul Bettner (Words With Friends, Age of Empires) and Katy Drake Bettner. By choosing Arbitrum as its new home, Wildcard brings a proven founding team to the Arbitrum network, backed by co-investors including Paradigm and Griffin Gaming Partners.
2.) Hyve Labs – An ecosystem that enables seamless distribution of Hyve and partner games across any channel, enabling the users to play in real time with friends across X, Telegram, Farcaster, web browsers, and more, making gaming truly frictionless. Backed by tier-one investors and a proven team, Hyve Labs is positioned to drive mass distribution, onboard top developers, and grow new player audiences across its ecosystem.
3.) T-Rex – A purpose-built blockchain for consumer applications. T-Rex looks to catalyze a significant evolution within Web3, driving a dynamic digital ecosystem by seamlessly integrating blockchain technology into everyday online interactions. The team’s strong presence in Southeast Asia aligns with Arbitrum Gaming Ventures’ broader strategy to deepen Arbitrum’s footprint in high-growth international markets.
4.) Xai – Developed to enable real economies and open trade in the next generation of video games, the Xai network is the world’s first Layer 3 solution for indie gaming. Powered by Arbitrum Orbit and featuring games from Ex Populus and other developers, Xai features the scale of traditional networks such as Steam and Epic Games to Web 3.
5.) Proof of Play – A technology-focused game studio led by Zynga alum Amitt Mahajan, co-creator of FarmVille, Proof of Play represents a key ecosystem pillar for Arbitrum Gaming Ventures and is developing innovative, on-chain games. Their flagship game, Pirate Nation, is anchored to Arbitrum to drive long-term retention and network activity.
KEY QUOTES:
“Arbitrum Gaming Ventures is backing proven founders who aren’t just making games—they’re helping create an even more vibrant Arbitrum ecosystem. This first cohort reflects our commitment to supporting high-quality experiences that are built for the long term—products that attract players, retain them, and expand meaningful engagement across Arbitrum.”
Rick Johanson, Partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures
“Wildcard has, from day one, been deliberate about our approach to the convergence of blockchain and games. Arbitrum Gaming Ventures represents a commitment to supporting real use cases for blockchain in games and we are thrilled to be part of their first cohort.”
Katy Drake Bettner, Co-CEO at Wildcard Alliance
“We’re excited to welcome new founders to Arbitrum, as well as to support established builders on the network such as Xai. Arbitrum Gaming Ventures’ first cohort of companies diversifies not only our portfolio and global footprint, but also our growing developer community.”
Dan Peng, Partner at Arbitrum Gaming Ventures
