Amplitude Studios: Charting a Course to Indie Success with $13.6 Million in Series A Funding

Amplitude Studios, the acclaimed French video game developer renowned for its deep strategy games and the captivating “Endless” universe, has recently secured €12 million (approximately $13.6 million) in a Series A funding round. This financial milestone marks a pivotal moment for the studio as it embarks on a journey back to its indie roots, fueled by a renewed commitment to its founding vision and a desire to scale its creative ambitions.

Reclaiming Independence: A Return to the “Triple-I” Philosophy

Founded in 2011 by former Ubisoft employees Romain de Waubert de Genlis and Mathieu Girard, Amplitude Studios quickly carved a niche for itself with its innovative approach to game development. In 2016, the studio was acquired by SEGA, a move intended to bolster SEGA’s presence in the PC gaming market. However, in November 2024, Amplitude regained its independence through a management buyout, signaling a strategic shift and a recommitment to its original values.

This return to independence is underpinned by what Amplitude calls its “Triple-I” approach: indie spirit, innovative design, and immersive storytelling, all delivered with AAA polish. This philosophy emphasizes the studio’s dedication to fostering a passionate, community-driven environment while maintaining a high standard of quality in its games.

Griffin Gaming Partners Leads the Charge

The Series A funding round was led by Griffin Gaming Partners, a prominent venture capital firm exclusively focused on the gaming industry. Griffin Gaming Partners contributed €10 million to the round, with additional participation from Bpifrance, a French public investment bank. This investment not only provides Amplitude with the financial resources to fuel its growth but also brings valuable expertise and industry connections to the table.

Frankie Zhu, Partner at Griffin Gaming Partners, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We’re excited to partner with Amplitude Studios on their next chapter – they’ve created rich strategy-based franchises and plan to continue leveraging their depth of knowledge in the genre alongside their loyal community to create engaging universes. The team has a proven track record of excellence in releasing multiple titles that are both critically acclaimed and loved by their audiences.”

Fueling Future Development and Community Engagement

The infusion of capital from the Series A funding will be strategically allocated to several key areas:

• New Title Development: A significant portion of the funds will be dedicated to the development of new titles, including the highly anticipated *Endless Legend 2*, a sequel that has already garnered praise from early previews. This collaboration with publishing partner Hooded Horse demonstrates Amplitude’s commitment to working with experienced partners to bring its creative visions to life.
• Team Expansion: Amplitude plans to expand its team of over 170 developers, attracting top talent to further enhance its development capabilities and support its growing portfolio of projects.
• Community Collaboration: Amplitude will continue to invest in its Games2Gether platform, a unique community platform that allows players to actively participate in the game development process. This platform fosters a strong connection between the studio and its fans, ensuring that player feedback is incorporated into the design and development of its games.

Romain de Waubert de Genlis, CEO of Amplitude Studios, emphasized the importance of community in the studio’s development philosophy, stating, “We built Amplitude as an indie studio driven by passion and community. What’s exciting about regaining our independence through this partnership with Griffin is that it’s not about changing who we are, it’s about accelerating toward the future we’ve always envisioned. A future where we can fully realize our creative vision and deliver the immersive experiences our players expect.”

A Legacy of Strategy and Innovation

Amplitude Studios has established a strong reputation for its innovative and engaging strategy games. Its most notable titles include:

• The Endless Series: This critically acclaimed series comprises *Endless Space*, *Endless Legend*, and *Endless Dungeon*, each offering a unique blend of strategy, world-building, and immersive storytelling. The *Endless* universe is known for its distinctive art style, complex factions, and deep gameplay mechanics.
• Humankind: This historical 4X strategy game allows players to rewrite the narrative of human history, blending cultures, history, and values to create a unique civilization. *Humankind* has been praised for its innovative gameplay features and its fresh take on the historical strategy genre.

These titles have not only garnered critical acclaim but have also achieved commercial success, with total lifetime revenue estimated at $152.2 million. This track record of success has undoubtedly contributed to the confidence of investors in Amplitude Studios’ future potential.

Endless Legend 2: A Glimpse into the Future

The development of *Endless Legend 2* is a key focus for Amplitude Studios. The game promises to build upon the foundations of its predecessor, introducing new features, factions, and gameplay mechanics. *Endless Legend 2* is set in Saiadha, an oceanic world defined by ever-changing seasons and extreme tidal events, which dramatically reshape the landscape.

The game will be published by Hooded Horse, a publisher specializing in strategy and role-playing games. This partnership reflects Amplitude’s commitment to working with experienced publishers who understand the nuances of the strategy genre and can provide valuable support in bringing its games to market.

Navigating the Competitive Landscape

Amplitude Studios operates in a competitive video game industry, facing competition from both established AAA studios and independent developers. Some of its notable competitors include:

• Asobo Studio: A French video game developer known for *A Plague Tale: Innocence* and *Microsoft Flight Simulator*.
• Ubisoft: A global video game publisher with a diverse portfolio of titles, including *Assassin’s Creed*, *Far Cry*, and *Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six*.
• Riot Games: The developer of *League of Legends*, one of the world’s most popular online games.

Despite this competition, Amplitude Studios has carved out a unique position for itself with its focus on deep strategy games, its commitment to community collaboration, and its distinctive artistic style.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for Indie Strategy

Amplitude Studios’ successful Series A funding round marks a significant milestone in its journey back to independence. With a renewed commitment to its “Triple-I” philosophy, a talented team, and a strong community, Amplitude is well-positioned to continue creating innovative and engaging strategy games that resonate with players worldwide.

The investment from Griffin Gaming Partners and Bpifrance provides the studio with the resources necessary to fuel its growth, expand its team, and further enhance its community engagement efforts. As Amplitude embarks on this new chapter, the future looks bright for this indie strategy powerhouse. *Endless Legend 2* and other future projects promise to deliver the immersive experiences that fans have come to expect from Amplitude Studios, solidifying its position as a leader in the strategy game genre. The blend of indie spirit with AAA quality positions them uniquely in the gaming landscape, promising fresh and innovative titles for years to come.