Seattle startup Sound Games raises $6.5M to rethink how premium games are sold

Sound Games, a new Seattle startup developing video games that work across multiple platforms with a single purchase, announced $6.5 million in seed funding.

The startup is betting on a “pay once, play anywhere” model — players buy a game one time and can play it across PC, console, and mobile devices. The company says its goal is to focus on high-quality, re-playable games without heavy in-game purchases or monetization mechanics.

Sound Games’ first title, Go Ape Ship!, is scheduled to launch Feb. 18. The game is designed as an early example of the company’s cross-platform approach, allowing players to move between devices without buying the game repeatedly.

The 12-person company was co-founded by Mike Schmid, who previously was head of publishing at Seattle startup Rec Room. Schmid was most recently vice president of growth at mobile gaming startup Backbone, and also spent four years at Apple. His co-founders include Jacobo Abril and Sergio Abril, who previously started and led video game development company nada studio.

The seed round was led by Point72 Ventures, with participation from Timeless, Daybreak, WOCstar, Hustle Fund, ZVC, and other investors. Sound Games said the funding will be used to ship multiple original titles, build cross-platform technology, and expand its development team.

Sound Games was previously featured in GeekWire’s Startup Radar.