Game Developer Ares Interactive Raises $70 Million

The Series A funding will support the company's vision to build a next-generation, cross-platform free-to-play game company.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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Ares Interactive, a game developer and publisher, has secured a $70 million Series A funding round led by General Catalyst, 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's plans to build a next-generation, cross-platform free-to-play game company.

Why it matters

The significant funding round for Ares Interactive underscores the continued investor interest and growth potential in the gaming industry, particularly in the free-to-play and cross-platform gaming segments. The company's focus on leveraging AI-enabled development, marketing, and live-ops workflows to iterate faster and respond to player feedback in real-time aligns with industry trends towards more agile and data-driven game development.

The details

Ares Interactive is led by a veteran team of game industry leaders and is supported by an advisory board spanning platforms, publishing, and free-to-play. The company's studios, 7th Inning in San Francisco and Swift Games in Berlin, will leverage the new funding to accelerate the development and scaling of their flagship title, Heroes vs Hordes, as well as launch new games like Baseball Hits 26 featuring officially licensed professional baseball players.

  • Ares Interactive secured the $70 million Series A funding on February 4, 2026.
  • The company's flagship title, Heroes vs Hordes, has surpassed 13 million installs to date.
  • Ares Interactive plans to launch Baseball Hits 26 and additional game announcements in 2026.

The players

Ares Interactive

A game developer and publisher that has secured a $70 million Series A funding round to support its vision to build a next-generation, cross-platform free-to-play game company.

General Catalyst

The venture capital firm that led the $70 million Series A funding round for Ares Interactive.

Niccolo de Masi

The founder and executive chairman of Ares Interactive who participated in the Series A funding round.

Mike DeLaet

The president of Ares Interactive.

Erin Schaefer

The COO at General Catalyst.

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What they’re saying

“This round validates our vision, our approach, and the team behind it. 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.”

— Mike DeLaet, President of Ares Interactive

“We believe Ares Interactive is uniquely positioned to build enduring hit gaming franchises by leveraging the power of AI workflows. 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're excited to support them as they scale.”

— Erin Schaefer, COO at General Catalyst

What’s next

Ares Interactive plans to launch Baseball Hits 26, a game featuring officially licensed professional baseball players, as well as additional game announcements in 2026.

The takeaway

Ares Interactive's successful $70 million Series A funding round highlights the continued investor appetite for well-executed, player-centric free-to-play game companies that leverage AI-powered development and operations to drive innovation and growth in the gaming industry.