Build a Rocket Boy Raises $110M to Launch New Gaming Titles
Build a Rocket Boy, the gaming studio spearheaded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies, has secured $110 million in a Series D funding round. The capital injection arrives as the Scotland-based developer prepares to release its inaugural suite of projects, including an ambitious open-world platform.
The investment was led by RedBird Capital Partners, a firm based in New York. Additional backing came from a diverse group of participants, including NetEase Games, Endeavor, Galaxy Interactive, Alignment Growth, Woodline Partners, and GTAM Partners.
Building a New Gaming Ecosystem
Benzies, who was a driving force behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise from its third installment in 2001 until his departure in 2016, established the company to explore new frontiers in interactive entertainment. The studio is currently developing two primary projects:
- Everywhere: An immersive, open-world platform centered on community-driven gameplay, allowing users to construct their own virtual environments.
- MindsEye: A high-fidelity, story-focused action-adventure title.
To support these releases, the studio is also launching Arcadia, a specialized suite of tools designed for user-generated content (UGC). These titles are expected to debut in the near future.
Path to Expansion
“I started Build A Rocket Boy so that I could continue to share the stories I love with players and give them a place to create and share,” Benzies stated regarding the recent funding. “We believe in a future where game creation is put in the hands of the players, and we will empower them with the tools to help shape this vision with us.”
The company’s journey to this point has been marked by significant shifts. Originally founded as Royal Circus Games in Edinburgh, the studio rebranded to Build a Rocket Boy in 2018 following legal disputes with Take-Two Interactive regarding the company’s previous name and hiring practices. Since that transition, the studio has raised at least $40 million in prior funding rounds to fuel its development.
Beyond its Edinburgh headquarters, the firm has expanded its footprint with development hubs in Montpellier, France, and Budapest, Hungary.