Ares Interactive, a San Francisco-based game developer and publisher, has raised $70 million in Series A funding to support its plan to build a next-generation, cross-platform free-to-play game company focused on creating long-running, player-loved franchises.
The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from founder and executive chairman Niccolo de Masi. The company said the financing ranks among the largest early-stage investments in a game company in recent years and will be used to expand Ares Interactive’s development and publishing efforts as it scales across platforms and builds out new titles and communities.
Ares is anchored by two studios, 7th Inning in San Francisco and Swift Games in Berlin. The company said it is pairing veteran game development talent with AI-enabled workflows across development, marketing, and live operations to accelerate iteration cycles, scale content creation, and respond more quickly to player feedback in real time.
The company is led by an experienced team of game-industry executives and supported by an advisory board with expertise in free-to-play operations, publishing, and platforms. Ares said its advisors include Chris Akhavan, former chief revenue officer at Glu; Matt Fischer, former vice president and head of the Worldwide App Store at Apple; Andrew Stalbow, former CEO at Seriously Digital; and Kent Wakeford, former COO at Kabam.
Ares also highlighted traction from its existing live operations. Its flagship title, Heroes vs Hordes, has surpassed 13 million installs to date, and the company said the survival roguelike RPG has earned strong player ratings and reviews, which it framed as evidence of a “fun-first” design approach and operational execution.
Looking ahead, Ares said it plans to launch Baseball Hits 26, which it described as a game designed by baseball fans for baseball fans and featuring officially licensed professional baseball players. The company also indicated that additional game announcements are planned for 2026.
Founded in 2024, Ares Interactive is privately held and operates as a cross-platform free-to-play developer and publisher with studios in San Francisco and Berlin. The company said its strategy is to build titles designed to grow into durable franchises while operating live games with an emphasis on player community and long-term engagement.
KEY QUOTES
“This round validates our vision, our approach, and the team behind it. Ares Interactive brings together rare operating experience and the discipline to build for the long term, as our leadership team has a long history of developing, scaling, and operating hit free-to-play games for some of the most successful publishers in the industry. In a market where many companies are pulling back, this financing gives us the ability to lean in, grow thoughtfully with exceptional partners, and invest in building games we have always wanted to make, creating experiences and communities that will keep players coming back for years to come.”
Mike DeLaet, President, Ares Interactive
“We believe Ares Interactive is uniquely positioned to build enduring hit gaming franchises by leveraging the power of AI workflows. The team combines deep operational experience with a clear creative vision and a disciplined, long-term approach to game development. From our first conversations, it was clear they are building with players at the center, and we’re excited to support them as they scale.”
Erin Schaefer, Chief Operating Officer, General Catalyst
