PlaysOut, a gaming tech startup, is in talks to raise up to US$15 million in equity at a valuation of over US$150 million.

The company offers tools for publishing mini-games on super apps like Tencent’s WeChat and is speaking with Middle Eastern funds and global venture capital firms.

The funding would support commercialization, though plans are not yet finalized.

In March 2025, PlaysOut raised US$7 million in seed funding from investors including OKX Ventures, KBW Ventures, and Kenetic Capital.

The startup is also working with Aptos and B3 on Web3 gaming infrastructure and has launched co-branded mini-games with DogeOS and Eros.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Mobile gaming infrastructure startups benefit from massive market expansion

PlaysOut’s fundraising comes as the mobile gaming market has grown from $68.5 billion in 2019 to a projected $286 billion in 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of over 40% 12.

This growth creates significant opportunities for infrastructure companies like PlaysOut that enable game distribution within existing platforms.

The shift toward platform-based gaming reflects broader industry trends, where games are increasingly viewed as services integrated into larger ecosystems rather than standalone products.

Mobile games now account for 33% of all app downloads but generate 74% of consumer spending on apps, demonstrating the monetization potential that attracts infrastructure providers 1.

The demographic appeal is also expanding. Mobile gamers average 36.3 years old with a nearly equal gender split, creating a vast addressable market for companies facilitating easier game access 1.

2️⃣ Gaming startup funding reflects cautious optimism despite market growth

While PlaysOut’s $150 million valuation pursuit occurs amid strong mobile gaming fundamentals, broader gaming startup funding has shown mixed signals recently.

The gaming industry attracted $9.6 billion in investments over an 18-month period ending in 2019, suggesting sustained investor interest in the sector 31.