Independent developer Welevel secures $5.7 million in financing

An independent gaming studio based in Munich, Welevel, has secured $5.7 million in a recent investment round led by Bitkraft Ventures.

The company plans to use this funding to enhance its proprietary AI platform and double its team size in anticipation of its forthcoming AAA sandbox survival game.

This new game, which has been in the works since 2021, aims to enter early access by 2026.

Investors in this venture include BMWK, Goodwater, and notable angel investors such as Chris Carvalho, Daniel Weinand, Heiko Hubertz, Kun Gao, Nate Mitchell, Ralf Reichert, and Mario Götze.

Welevel's CEO, Christian Heimerl, noted the significant resources and budget required for AAA game development, often out of reach for indie studios.

Heimerl explained that leveraging AI can empower small teams with the creativity and power to produce games that match or exceed those from established AAA studios. In collaboration with Bitkraft, he expressed enthusiasm for the shared vision and passion.

Jasper Brand, a partner at Bitkraft Ventures, stated that while taking on AAA projects is ambitious for any new studio, especially with the nascent integration of AI in gaming, teams like Welevel are setting new standards in gameplay and distribution through innovative development approaches.

He highlighted that Welevel has built a strong technological base with only a few developers, enabling the team to make quick and cost-effective creative choices.