Mike DeLaet, President of Ares Interactive
<p><span class="legendSpanClass"><strong>SAN FRANCISCO</strong> </span>&#8212; <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=3553616824&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aresinteractive.com%2F&;a=Ares+Interactive" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ares Interactive</a></u></b>, a game developer and publisher, has scored a $70 million Series A raise led by <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=46132882&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.generalcatalyst.com%2F&;a=General+Catalyst" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">General Catalyst</a></u></b>, with participation from founder and executive chairman Niccolo de Masi. The round represents one of the largest early-stage investments in a game company in recent years and will support Ares Interactive&#8217;s vision to build a next-generation, cross-platform free-to-play game company.</p>
<p>Anchored by its studios <b>7th Inning </b>(San Francisco) and <b>Swift Games</b> (Berlin), Ares pairs veteran game-making expertise with AI-enabled development, marketing, and live-ops workflows. This will allow their teams to iterate faster, scale content efficiently, and respond to player feedback in real time.</p>
<p>[<strong>Photo above</strong>: Mike DeLaet, President of Ares Interactive]</p>
<p>Ares Interactive is led by a veteran team of game industry leaders. It&#8217;s also supported by an advisory board spanning platforms, publishing, and free-to-play, including <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=3430541416&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fchrisakhavan%2F&;a=Chris+Akhavan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Chris Akhavan</a></u></b> (former CRO, Glu), <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=1587815728&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmattfischer%2F&;a=Matt+Fischer" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Matt Fischer</a></u></b> (former VP, Head of Worldwide App Store, Apple), <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=4279040369&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fstalbow%2F&;a=Andrew+Stalbow" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Andrew Stalbow</a></u></b> (former CEO, Seriously Digital), and <b><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=185648689&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fwakeford%2F&;a=Kent+Wakeford" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kent Wakeford</a></u></b> (former COO, Kabam).</p>
<p>&#8220;This round validates our vision, our approach, and the team behind it,&#8221; said Mike DeLaet, President of Ares Interactive. &#8220;Ares Interactive brings together rare operating experience and the discipline to build for the long term, as our leadership team has a long history of developing, scaling, and operating hit free-to-play games for some of the most successful publishers in the industry. In a market where many companies are pulling back, this financing gives us the ability to lean in, grow thoughtfully with exceptional partners, and invest in building games we have always wanted to make, creating experiences and communities that will keep players coming back for years to come.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We believe Ares Interactive is uniquely positioned to build enduring hit gaming franchises by leveraging the power of AI workflows,&#8221; said Erin Schaefer, COO at General Catalyst. &#8220;The team combines deep operational experience with a clear creative vision and a disciplined, long-term approach to game development. From our first conversations, it was clear they are building with players at the center, and we&#8217;re excited to support them as they scale.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ares Interactive is already operating successful live games, led by <b><i><u><a href="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&;l=en&;o=4607058-1&;h=2071368216&;u=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fapp%2Fheroes-vs-hordes-survival-rpg%2Fid1608898173&;a=Heroes+vs+Hordes" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Heroes vs Hordes</a></u></i></b>, the company&#8217;s flagship title, which has surpassed 13 million installs to date. The ultimate survival roguelike RPG has earned strong player ratings and reviews, demonstrating Ares&#8217; focus on polish, fun-first design, and excellence in live operations.</p>
<p>Next up, Ares will launch <b><i>Baseball Hits 26</i></b>, a game designed by baseball fans for baseball fans, featuring officially licensed professional baseball players. Additional game announcements are planned for 2026.</p>

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