Investment in global gaming-related startups is picking up in 2026 after hitting a longtime low in 2025. So far this year, companies in the space have raised around $2 billion in seed- through growth-stage funding, already ahead of the 2025 full-year total. The surge is driven largely by big rounds for companies at the intersection of AI and gaming.

A few large rounds contributed an outsized share. Sunnyvale, California-based Meshy AI, a developer of foundation models for AI-powered 3D generation, was the largest fundraiser, pulling in $400 million in a July Series B at a $1.5 billion valuation. Israel-based Decart, developer of a platform for training AI models, raised $300 million. Pure gaming startups also featured, including motion-based family game developer Nex, which closed $150 million, and Turkish mobile gaming company Grand Games, which picked up $70 million in May.

Gaming-focused venture investors are also attracting fresh capital. San Francisco-based Makers Fund closed $250 million for its fourth flagship fund, following successful investments like a lead seed stake in Dream Games, which exited at a $5 billion valuation. Griffin Gaming Partners secured $100 million for a fund focused on indie games. Overall, while gaming startup investment remains far below peaks seen a few years ago, the substantial year-over-year gains look encouraging.