- Young studios can fund development only through publishing deals, crowdfunding or their own pockets.
- Publishing deals are hard to get at an early stage, and they come with final say over the finished game, so studios lose their independence.
- For investors, equity in a studio is rarely a viable way to back a single game.
Investments in game titles
Fund the title. Empower the studio.
Mid Game connects game studios that need capital with investors who want exposure to individual titles. We handle the valuation, the contracts and the payouts.
The gap
Studios need capital. Investors want in on games. Nothing connects them.
There is no instrument on the market for investing directly in a game outside of studio equity, and no clear infrastructure linking studios with investors who want to add gaming to their portfolio.
Mid Game is a market-making platform that gives investors a direct instrument in specific game releases, through partial grants of financial rights. We provide the legal documents, run the administration of shares and royalty payouts, and help with valuation and pricing.
How it works
Five steps from license to payout.
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License
We acquire a license from a game studio to collect the royalties from one of its titles.
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Valuate
Together with the studio we set a valuation and price, based on the ask and the expected royalties.
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Fractionalize
The license is split into lots. Each lot grants financial rights to a share of the title's royalty payouts.
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Connect
We support the studio with pitch materials, introduce it to investors and administer every document along the way.
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Distribute
Once the game is released, we collect the royalties and distribute them to the lot holders.
Example case
See how a lot pays out.
- $100,000Game Studio A seeks funding to launch Title A.
- 100 lotsIssued at $1,000 per lot.
- 0.2% eachEvery lot receives 0.2% of royalties, 20% across all lots.
- $10 / copyNet profit generated by each copy sold.
Distributed to lot holders
Illustrative example only. It is not a forecast, an offer or investment advice. Actual payouts depend on how the title sells and on the terms of each agreement, and investors can lose their capital.
For studios
Build your dream game. Exactly as you wish.
Investors back your title and receive a share of its future profits. You keep the creative freedom and stay focused on the game. Mid Game takes care of the contracts, the administration and the legal side of the investment.
Apply as a studioCreative freedom
Finance your project without handing anyone final say over the finished game.
We handle the paperwork
Contracts, administration and legal issues around the investment are on us.
Publisher still possible
Prefer a publisher over self-publishing? You can still bring one in.
Terms that fit your project
Choose from options such as time-limited contracts and buy-back options.
For investors
Invest in a title. Choose your ticket.
Back a specific game from a gaming studio and receive a share of its revenue. We help validate and value the studios and their games, then arrange the contracts, payouts and reporting.
No cap on investors per title
Early-stage entry before release
Register as an investor
Validated and valued
We help validate and value each studio and game.
Pick your ticket size
Revenue is split into lots, so you choose a size that suits you.
Diversify across titles
Spread and mitigate risk across several different games.
Your own dashboard
See your investments and your received and expected revenue.
Your portfolio
Illustrative previewInvested$6,000
Received$2,480
Expected$16,400
Title A
2 lots
Title B
1 lot
Title C
1 lot
Roadmap
Starting small. Proving it works.
Our proof of concept has three objectives: get the legal and financial structure right, validate how we assess a title, and earn the trust of the gaming and investor community. We take one or two titles through the full cycle. Register if you want to participate.
Prove the structure
Produce the legal documents and contracts a deal needs, and confirm the accounting and tax treatment works for every party involved.
Verify valuation
Design and test how we valuate a title, based on its expected profit, likelihood of success and other early indicators.
Earn the trust
Spread the word and earn trust in the gaming and investor community, and establish the forums and deal flow that keep titles and capital moving.
Proof of concept scope
- 1–2Studios
- 1–2Near-release titles
- 4–6Investors
FAQ
Good questions.
What exactly does an investor buy?
A lot: a grant of financial rights to a share of the royalties from one specific title. It is not equity in the studio, so investors are exposed to the game rather than the company behind it.
How is the legal structure set up?
It is kept simple. The only binding agreement is a licensing deal that gives the right to receive royalty payouts from a specific title, through ownership of its financial rights.
Is there a limit to how many investors can back a title?
No. Because there is no cap table of owners, any number of investors can hold lots in the same title.
How is a title valued and priced?
We work with the studio to reach a valuation based on its funding ask and the expected royalties, which guides the price of each lot.
Can studios still work with a publisher?
Yes. Studios that prefer not to self-publish can still bring in a publisher alongside the investment.
How are the investments treated for accounting and tax?
The intention is that the investment appears as a financial asset for investors and behaves like equity investments for book and tax purposes. This is still being confirmed, and treatment depends on jurisdiction, so please consult your own adviser.
What are the risks?
Payouts depend on how a title sells. A game may earn less than the amount invested, and investors can lose all of their capital. Diversifying across several titles can reduce, but not remove, that risk.
Early access
Be part of the first round.
Tell us whether you are a studio with a title to fund or an investor looking for exposure to games, and we will get in touch.