Irish tech startup Entity has announced the successful closure of a seed round that brought in $5.8 million (approximately €5 million) to fund the creation of an innovative gaming platform that runs entirely in a web browser while delivering graphics and performance on par with traditional console titles. The company, which is headquartered in Dublin, was founded in 2024 by a group of seasoned developers who previously built Digit, the Irish studio responsible for the popular mobile title Star Trek Fleet Command before it was acquired by Scopely in 2019.
Entity’s long‑term vision is to reshape how games are accessed, played, and discovered by leveraging the latest web technologies, and the team expects to launch a public version of the platform in early 2027. The core of Entity’s offering rests on two emerging web standards: WebGPU and WebAssembly. WebGPU provides low‑level access to a device’s graphics hardware, enabling the rendering of complex 3D environments at frame rates comparable to native console engines.
WebAssembly, meanwhile, allows compiled code—often written in C++, Rust, or other high‑performance languages—to run in the browser with near‑native speed. By combining these technologies, Entity claims that players can click a single link and be dropped directly into a game session or multiplayer lobby without the need to download large installers, wait for patches, or manage storage constraints on their devices.
Unlike cloud‑gaming services such as Google Stadia or NVIDIA GeForce Now, which stream video frames from remote servers and therefore suffer from latency introduced by network round‑trips, Entity’s platform runs the game logic locally in the user’s browser. This approach eliminates the typical lag associated with cloud streaming and removes the dependence on high‑bandwidth connections, making the experience smoother for players on a wide range of hardware, from high‑end gaming PCs to modest laptops, tablets, and even smartphones that support the required web standards.
The seed round was led by ACT, Delta Partners, and Elkstone, with additional participation from Enterprise Ireland and a consortium of angel investors with deep roots in the video‑game industry. The involvement of Enterprise Ireland signals strong governmental support for the venture, reflecting Ireland’s broader strategy to nurture home‑grown tech companies that can compete on a global scale. Entity’s founding team includes Rich Barnwell (CEO), Kev Bergin, Dave McGovern, Fergus Duggan, and Artur Stawiarski. All five founders share a common background in creating successful live‑service games and have a track record of scaling products to millions of users.
They are complemented by Paul Farley, the head of games at Entity, who previously founded Firestoke and held senior roles at Tag Games and ChiliConnect—both of which were later acquired by Scopely and Unity, respectively. This blend of entrepreneurial experience and industry connections gives Entity a solid foundation for both product development and business development. In a statement, Rich Barnwell emphasized the paradigm shift that the "new web" represents for interactive entertainment.
"The way games are made, discovered, and played in the 'new web' era is fundamentally changing, and these games will need a new home," he said. Barnwell argued that the traditional model, which relies heavily on large downloads, patch cycles, and platform‑specific storefronts, creates unnecessary friction for both developers and gamers. "For too long the industry has been shackled by friction‑heavy downloads and arbitrary constraints," he added. Barnwell continued, "With Entity, we are bringing the platform that the modern gamer needs: console‑quality gaming experiences instantly accessible on whatever device they are using.
With the backing of our new investors and an expert, supportive angel group, Entity delivers a new way to play and a new way to think about the games console experience." The company plans to launch its service with a curated mix of existing PC and console titles alongside original intellectual property created specifically for the web environment. By offering both established franchises and fresh experiences, Entity hopes to attract a broad audience while demonstrating the technical viability of its approach. Looking ahead, Entity’s roadmap includes several key milestones. In the next 12 months, the team will focus on finalizing the core engine, integrating partner SDKs, and establishing relationships with publishers who are interested in porting their games to the browser.
A closed beta is slated for late 2025, during which invited players will test the platform’s performance, user interface, and social features. Feedback from this phase will inform the public launch scheduled for early 2027, at which point Entity aims to support a library of at least 50 titles, ranging from action‑adventure and RPGs to competitive multiplayer shooters. If successful, Entity could pave the way for a new distribution model that reduces reliance on console ecosystems such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, while still delivering comparable visual fidelity and gameplay depth.
The company’s emphasis on local execution, rather than server‑side streaming, also aligns with growing concerns around data privacy, server costs, and the environmental impact of large‑scale data centers. Overall, Entity’s seed funding round not only provides the financial resources needed to bring its ambitious platform to market but also validates the belief among investors that the web is ready to host next‑generation gaming experiences.
By marrying cutting‑edge web standards with seasoned development talent, Entity is positioned to challenge the status quo and potentially reshape the future of interactive entertainment.