Build A Rocket Boy, the highly anticipated open-world gaming platform Everywhere, announced today that it has effectively raised over $110 million through a Series D investment round.
The company was founded by video game industry veteran Leslie Benzies, whose work beyond with Rockstar North earned her lead designer and manufacturer credits on Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption, L. A. Noire and Manhunt. In 2022, Build A Rocket Boy added gaming heavyweights Mick Hocking and Murray Pannell to its team, which then numbered around 400 members.
Everywhere, Benzies’ first game in over a decade, has experienced delays, but it’s coming to PC soon, after a closed alpha in December 2023. Build A Rocket Boy plans to use the new capital to launch Everywhere alongside two other products: the AAA MindsEye series of games and its suite of user-generated content tool design teams Arcadia.
The Series D investment circular was conducted through RedBird Capital Partners, a personal investment company with $8. 6 billion in assets under control in the media and entertainment, sports and customer experience ecosystems, adding AC Milan, Fenway Sports Group and Alpine F1 Team.
The circular has benefited from the participation of new and existing investors including Galaxy Interactive, NetEase Games, Endeavour, Alignment Growth, Woodline Partners LP and GTAM Partners; Julia Wittlin, wife of RedBird Capital, will join the board of directors of Build A Rocket Boy.
Benzies said: “We are excited to partner with RedBird and our other investors to help us launch Everywhere, MindsEye and what will be innovative UGC design teams in Arcadia. RedBird’s experience in building successful media and entertainment platforms will be invaluable and will make them an ideal spouse.
“I started Build A Rocket Boy so I could continue to share the stories I love with players and give them a position to create and share. We’re in a long-term where game creation is put in the hands of players, and we’ll give them the team to help us shape that vision with us.
Wittlin, who leads RedBird Capital’s emerging expansion investment strategy, added: “We are excited to partner with exceptional skill like Leslie and the Build A Rocket Boy team as they build the next game studio and entertainment platform that will define the gender.