Words With Friends Co-Founder Raises $46M for Web 3 Game Studio

Paradigm led the round for The Wildcard Alliance, the new Web 3 subsidiary of Playful Studios.

AccessTimeIconJun 14, 2022 at 1:11 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 4:17 p.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Playful Studios, an independent game studio from Words with Friends co-founder Paul Bettner, has launched a new Web 3 subsidiary called The Wildcard Alliance and raised $46 million in Series A funding led by crypto native investment giant Paradigm.

  • Other participants in the funding round included Griffin Gaming Partners, Polygon and venture capitalist Sabrina Hahn.
  • Wildcard – the upcoming first game from the subsidiary – is a hybrid multiplayer online battle arena, real-time strategy and collectible card game on the Polygon blockchain.
  • The game is framed as “the ultimate spectator sport” where competitors can interact and transact directly with their in-game fans and supporters.
  • Texas-based The Wildcard Alliance is helmed by Bettner and his wife, Katy Drake Bettner. The team is rounded out by game industry veterans from titles such as Age of Empires and Halo Wars.
  • Founded in 2012, Playful Studios is best known for the 3D platform game series Lucky’s Tale and sandbox adventure game Creativerse.
  • Why Sequoia Capital Is Raising $600M to Launch New Crypto Fund
    06:39
    Why Sequoia Capital Is Raising $600M to Launch New Crypto Fund
  • Twitter Joined $20M Funding Round for Bitcoin Payments Provider OpenNode
    06:14
    Twitter Joined $20M Funding Round for Bitcoin Payments Provider OpenNode
  • Twitter Joined $20M Funding Round for Bitcoin Payments Provider OpenNode
    06:14
    Twitter Joined $20M Funding Round for Bitcoin Payments Provider OpenNode
  • Polygon Raises $450M to Build Web 3 Applications, Invest in Zero-knowledge Tech
    06:55
    Polygon Raises $450M to Build Web 3 Applications, Invest in Zero-knowledge Tech
  • Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.

    Brandy Betz

    Brandy covered crypto-related venture capital deals for CoinDesk.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.