Studio helmed by CCP (EVE Online) co-founder and other senior CCP veterans secures funding from multiple investors, including Korea Investment Partners, Woori Technology Investment Co. Ltd., Seoul Investment Partners, Sisu Game Ventures and Crowberry Capital to self-publish its hit PC title on mobile in 2022.
30 September 2021, Reykjavik, Iceland – Independent game developer 1939 Games today announced that it has successfully raised $5.3 million to bring its hugely successful PC digital collectable card game Kards to millions of mobile gamers in 2022. This investment comes from a collection of private and public sources, including Korea Investment Partners, Woori Technology Invest Co. Ltd., Seoul Investment Partners, Sisu Game Ventures and Crowberry Capital. The majority of the investment will be used towards self-publishing on mobile and realising 1939 Games vision of making Kards a truly cross-platform title. 1939 Games is helmed by CEO Ívar Kristjánsson, who was Co-founder and CEO of CCP, developer of blockbuster MMO EVE Online.
Kards is a free-to-play multi-platform digital CCG that over 700,000 players have enjoyed since its PC launch in April 2020. The title is built around the classic CCG concept of deploying different strategies through collecting cards and constructing decks, all within a unique WWII setting. Kards has continually evolved since its launch, introducing four expansions that have built upon core CCG gameplay innovations, such as the frontline, which introduces a simple range and movement system that fits the warfare theme perfectly. Players construct bespoke decks based on key WWII protagonists, including Britain, the USA, Japan, Germany, Soviet Union, Italy, France and Poland. Combat units include infantry, armoured vehicles, aircraft, naval units and special ‘orders’.
“We always intended for Kards to be a truly cross-platform title, and this funding enables us to bring the title to iOS and Android in 2022,” said CEO Ívar Kristjánsson. “Our investors recognise the enormous untapped potential for Kards in the mobile gaming market, which Newzoo recently projected to hit $116bn in 2024. A mobile version of Kards is our most common player request, and we’re very excited to now be able to deliver on this in the coming months.”
“Kards is a fantastically well-made game due to the pedigree of the team behind it,” said Sang-Ho Park, Executive Director Korea Investment Partners (KIP). “ Our investment reflects our strong belief in the team as well as the title’s huge potential when it comes to mobile in the Asian market.”
“We are happy to follow up on our early investment as the 1939 team has proven its ability to build a stellar game. We are impressed how they combine their artistic ability with industry insight and an innovative approach to digital card gaming. With such a great addition to the team of investors the future is very exciting.” said Hekla Arnardottir, Chairman of the 1939 Games board and founding partner at Crowberry Capital.
1939 Games was formed by brothers Ívar and Guðmundur Kristjánsson in 2015 to bring authentic, premium WWII experiences to gamers. The company draws its talent from several seasoned executives who have worked extensively on AAA titles. 1939 Games Co-founder, Chief Creative Officer Guðmundur Kristjánsson was a project lead at CCP for almost 13 years, where he worked on various aspects of EVE Online’s development. 1939 Games Senior Game Designer Hrafnkell Smári Óskarsson was also Director of Game Design at CCP for EVE Online.
ENDS
1939 Games website: https://www.1939games.com
Kards Website: https://www.kards.com
Kards on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/544810/KARDS__The_WWII_Card_Game/
For more information, please contact:
Ívar Kristjánsson – ivar@1939games.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Alex Beech – alex@biggamesmachine.com
Big Games Machine – www.biggamesmachine.com
About 1939 Games
1939 Games was founded by Ívar and Guðmundur Kristjánsson, brothers with over 35 years of games industry experience between them. With a shared interest in collectable card games and WWII, the duo wanted a game that combined their passions. When they couldn’t find one, they set out to make it themselves. Kards is that game, a digital CCG (collectable card game) that uses historical military units as inspiration for its cards. Fusing traditional card game elements with WWII strategy, it is an elegant, action-packed experience that stands apart within the genre.
