HTML5 Gaming Studio Big Viking Games Raises $21.75 Million
Big Viking Games has secured a total of $21.75 million in funding from three large Canadian institutions to support its strategic initiatives.
Big Viking Games is the largest independent mobile and social game studio in Canada and a pioneer in HTML5 mobile instant games. While Big Viking Games may fly under the radar for many, tens of millions of gamers have played their games such as YoWorld and Fish World.
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has provided $18 million in debt financing in 2016 in partnership with Export Development Canada (EDC). BDC Capital, Growth and Transition division also contributed $3.75 million in an earlier round that has since been repaid.
“Starting in 2012, we made the decision to make significant investments in HTML5 instant games because we saw the potential of the technology and how it will define the future of mobile gaming and entertainment,” says Albert Lai, co-founder and CEO, Big Viking Games.
“Others have moved away from HTML5 due to the technical investment required but we believe that open standards and more powerful devices will pave the way for a massive shift on mobile phones and tablets.”
Big Viking Games has built an HTML5 engine that allows them to create instant games of the same calibre that can be downloaded from the App Store, but instead distributes them on the open web or through a myriad of distribution channels such as social networks and messengers.
The five-year old company has grown organically without any venture capital or outside equity investment to date. With more than 100 employees and growing, Big Viking Games is the largest independent, self-published gaming company in the country.