Gardens Interactive has announced that it has successfully closed a Series B financing round that brought in more than $35 million in new capital. The round was spearheaded by Lightspeed Venture Partners, a firm known for backing high‑growth technology and gaming companies. With this infusion of funds, Gardens Interactive’s cumulative investment now tops $70 million, a milestone that underscores the confidence the venture community has in the studio’s vision and its leadership team.
The funding round attracted a roster of prominent investors beyond Lightspeed. Zenith Capital, Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, Accel, Innovation Endeavours, and Bayshore all participated, adding their considerable expertise and networks to the mix. In addition to institutional backers, several high‑profile individual investors joined the round. Stewart Butterfield, the co‑founder and former chief executive officer of Slack, contributed his support, as did Andy Zhong, the founder and chief executive officer of the mobile gaming powerhouse FunPlus.
Another notable participant was Thomas Dimson, recognized for co‑creating OpenAI’s Sora, who brings a deep understanding of cutting‑edge AI and interactive media. Beyond the capital itself, the round introduced strategic advisory relationships.
Moritz Baier‑Lentz, who heads the gaming and interactive media practice at Lightspeed Venture Partners, has taken on the role of independent advisor to Gardens Interactive, offering guidance on product strategy, market positioning, and scaling operations. Former TikTok chief operating officer V.
Pappas will sit on the company’s board of directors as Lightspeed’s representative, bringing valuable experience in building large‑scale social platforms and community‑driven products. Krafton, the South Korean developer best known for the PUBG franchise, also secured a seat on the board. Mike Hong, Krafton’s director of investments and business analysis, will act as the firm’s representative. Hong replaces Maria Park, who previously served as Krafton’s head of corporate development.
Park will remain involved with Gardens Interactive, transitioning to an independent advisory role within the studio’s leadership team. Gardens Interactive was founded by a group of industry veterans whose previous work includes critically acclaimed titles such as Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Sky: Children of the Light. These creators have a track record of delivering emotionally resonant, artistically ambitious experiences that push the boundaries of interactive storytelling. Their new venture is currently focused on building its first original IP, operating under the provisional name Project Gardens.
Project Gardens is being described as a multiplayer, shared‑fantasy adventure that emphasizes "social role‑play" elements. The design philosophy centers on giving players the tools they need to shape each other's journeys, encouraging self‑expression, collaboration, and deep interpersonal connections.
According to CEO Stephen Bell, "Social role‑play means empowering players to be the engines of one another's adventures, to give them the tools to express themselves, connect and communicate – to invite them to forge lasting relationships, landmark memories, and to transform the world together. We're proud to also unite this incredible group of investors." Bell further explained that the fresh funding provides the studio with the runway required to develop a game of this magnitude properly, and to sustain it over the long term. "This funding gives us the room to ship a game of this scale properly, and to keep it alive and evolving for years to come. Our ambition is to grow Gardens into the global leader of prestige social entertainment, and we are deeply grateful for our partners – those who have been with us from the beginning, and those who are new to our adventure party – for believing in our vision and for recognising social role‑play and player‑driven world‑building as a massive and majorly underserved category," Bell added.
The concept of social role‑play that Gardens Interactive champions represents a shift away from traditional, linear gaming experiences toward more open, player‑centric worlds. In such environments, participants are not merely consumers of pre‑designed narratives; they become co‑authors, influencing the game’s evolving storylines, aesthetics, and community dynamics. This approach aligns with broader industry trends that see increasing demand for games that function as social spaces, where the line between gameplay and social interaction blurs.
By securing a diverse group of investors—from venture capital firms with deep pockets in gaming to seasoned entrepreneurs and tech innovators—Gardens Interactive has positioned itself to leverage both financial resources and strategic insight. The involvement of figures like Stewart Butterfield and Andy Zhong signals confidence that the studio’s blend of artistic ambition and social connectivity can capture a sizable market share. Looking ahead, the studio plans to allocate the new capital across several key areas. First, it will expand its development team, hiring additional artists, designers, engineers, and narrative writers to accelerate content creation and polish.
Second, the funding will support the construction of robust backend infrastructure needed to host a large‑scale, persistent multiplayer world, ensuring low latency and high availability for a global player base. Third, Gardens Interactive intends to invest heavily in community‑building initiatives, including in‑game events, creator tools, and moderation systems that foster a safe and inclusive environment. The broader gaming ecosystem stands to benefit from Gardens Interactive’s focus on social role‑play.
As more players seek experiences that combine deep storytelling with meaningful social interaction, studios that can deliver seamless, immersive worlds will likely capture the loyalty of a new generation of gamers. Gardens Interactive’s ambition to become the premier provider of "prestige social entertainment" suggests a commitment to high production values, sophisticated design, and a curated player experience that differentiates it from more casual social games. In summary, the $35 million Series B round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners not only boosts Gardens Interactive’s financial foundation to over $70 million but also brings an array of strategic partners and advisors to its side. With a seasoned founding team, a clear vision for a socially driven multiplayer adventure, and a robust pipeline of talent and resources, Gardens Interactive is well‑positioned to launch Project Gardens and potentially reshape the landscape of social gaming for years to come.