John Smedley, a co-creator of EverQuest, secures $30.5 million in financing for his latest venture, a new shooter game.
Distinct Possibility Studios, a gaming studio co-founded by EverQuest co-creator John Smedley, has raised $30.5 million in a funding round, marking a significant step towards the launch of their highly anticipated game, "Reaper Actual".
"Reaper Actual" is an AAA-level massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) strategy shooter, set on the war-torn island of Marova. The game combines elements of extraction shooters and base-building, offering a unique blend of Player vs Player vs Environment (PvPvE) scenarios, territorial warfare, resource extraction, and base management.
The game's open-world and persistent gameplay promises a large-scale online environment where up to 200 players can engage in epic battles. The dynamic faction warfare features AI characters that fight each other, regardless of player involvement. Players can also build and defend their bases, setting traps and deploying AI-controlled guards.
The funding round was led by Bitkraft Ventures and Brevan Howard Digital, with participation from the Tezos Foundation, Hashed, Delphi Ventures, Shima Capital, North Island Ventures, and Decasonic. John Smedley, co-founder and CEO of Distinct Possibility Studios, has also held roles at Amazon Game Studios and Sony Online Entertainment, bringing a wealth of experience to the team.
"Reaper Actual" is set for release on the Epic Games Store and Steam, and the company plans to use the capital to develop and launch the game. The game will initially be a paid model, transitioning to free-to-play six months later.
The game's development team includes veterans from PlanetSide 2, such as Matt Higby and Tramell Isaace, along with John Smedley, who has experience with titles like EverQuest and H1Z1.
In addition, "Reaper Actual" will utilise blockchain technology, specifically integrating with the Tezos-based EVM-compatible layer-2 network, Etherlink. This allows for the creation and trading of in-game items, such as weapons and skins, on platforms like the Steam Community Marketplace and Etherlink.
Bitkraft Ventures General Partner Carlos Pereira believes Distinct Possibility Studios is a good example of the intersection of two game genres, "Reaper Actual" being a testament to the potential of combining MMORPG and FPS genres in a unique way. With the funding secured, the team at Distinct Possibility Studios is well-positioned to bring "Reaper Actual" to life, set for release in early 2026.
"The upcoming game, 'Reaper Actual', developed by Distinct Possibility Studios, is poised to introduce an innovative blend of news in the technology sector, as it combines elements of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) and strategy shooters, leveraging blockchain technology for in-game item trading."
"Following the successful funding round of $30.5 million, the team plans to launch 'Reaper Actual' on popular platforms like the Epic Games Store and Steam, marking a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of tech-driven gaming."
