Beamable has secured $13.5 million in funding to advance its decentralized backend infrastructure for online games. The funding round was led by Bitkraft Ventures and includes participation from investors such as Arca, Advancit Capital, 2Punks, P2 Ventures, Solana Foundation, Scytale Digital, Defy.vc, GrandBanks Capital, and Permit Ventures. The company aims to move away from reliance on centralized data centers by developing an alternative infrastructure that provides scalability and cost efficiency for game developers.
About Beamable
Beamable's approach challenges the traditional dependency on hyperscale data centers owned by major tech companies. Instead, the company is building a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) designed to support live-service games across platforms, including PC, console, and mobile. The Beamable Network is compatible with Unity and Unreal Engine, making it accessible to a wide range of game developers.
The Beamable Foundation, an independent entity, will oversee the open-source development of this infrastructure. By decentralizing computing power, storage, and network bandwidth, the network offers an alternative to conventional server platforms. The model relies on blockchain-based tokenized incentives, which align the interests of contributors and users in a community-driven system.
Beamable Secures $13.5 Million in Fresh Funding
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Open-Source Development Tools
The decision to open-source the Beamable technology is intended to provide game developers with confidence that they will not become dependent on a single service provider. CEO Jon Radoff emphasized that previous industry shutdowns, such as GameSparks, left thousands of games without backend support. Developers have since become more cautious about investing in third-party infrastructure, prompting Beamable to ensure its technology remains available and sustainable in the long term.
By transitioning to an open-source model, Beamable allows developers to access its backend technology while also enabling third-party developers to contribute new software modules. This approach encourages a collaborative ecosystem where developers can build, modify, and enhance infrastructure tools without concerns about vendor lock-in.
Beamable Secures $13.5 Million in Fresh Funding
Role of Blockchain and Tokenized Incentives
The Beamable Network utilizes blockchain technology to facilitate a decentralized economy for game servers. By implementing a tokenized incentive system, game developers can access server resources as needed while contributors to the network are compensated for their participation. This method enables game developers to scale their infrastructure dynamically, reducing upfront costs and optimizing resource utilization.
The business model follows the principles of DePIN, which has been used in other industries to maximize underutilized computing power. Beamable’s model is similar to that of Aethir, a company that leverages blockchain to aggregate unused graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI processing and cloud streaming. Beamable, however, focuses on CPU-based game servers, which are essential for live-service games.
Scalable and Sustainable Ecosystem
Beamable’s long-term goal is to create a robust ecosystem where developers can contribute and monetize infrastructure solutions. The company has already supported around 80 live games, with another 150 in active development. The Beamable Network allows developers to integrate backend services seamlessly, while third-party contributors can add new capabilities, such as matchmaking algorithms or analytics tools.
By utilizing blockchain as a settlement layer, Beamable ensures that contributors are compensated based on actual network usage. This approach enables a more efficient and scalable infrastructure model, making it easier for developers to manage server resources without requiring substantial capital investment.
Build on Beamable
Final Thoughts
Beamable's decentralized approach to game backend infrastructure represents a shift in how developers manage and scale online games. By reducing reliance on centralized providers and fostering an open-source ecosystem, the company aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable infrastructure model.
While Beamable's network can support web3-enabled games, it remains chain-agnostic, allowing developers to build on their preferred blockchain networks. The company’s primary focus is on providing a reliable backend service that enables game studios to scale efficiently while ensuring fair compensation for infrastructure providers.
