Emptyvessel, an independent game studio developing the cyberpunk shooter *Defect*, has announced securing $11 million in funding to date. This includes previous seed funding and a recently closed Series A round. The funding will be used to expand the team, enhance studio infrastructure, and accelerate development of *Defect* for console release and single-player support. The game, which has already garnered over 1.9 million YouTube views for its debut trailer, is poised for significant growth.
The Series A round was led by NCSoft and 1AM Gaming, with participation from Black Phoenix Games, Anurup Joseph, Sebastiaan Hejne, Sisu Game Ventures, Raptor Group, and Compute. NCSoft's involvement extends beyond investment, including a long-term partnership and publishing resources, with NC America CEO Jeonghee Jin joining Emptyvessel's board.
Emptyvessel's team comprises experienced developers from renowned franchises like *Doom*, *Quake*, and *Call of Duty*, operating under a remote work model with talent across the globe. The studio is committed to sustainable game development practices while maintaining high-quality gameplay and innovation. The additional funding will allow them to scale their operations and deliver on their ambitious vision for *Defect*.
The success of the funding round reflects investor confidence in Emptyvessel's unique approach to game design and the potential of *Defect* to redefine the first-person shooter genre. The game is currently available for wishlisting on Steam and the Epic Games Store.