Video game developer NEKCOM announces that it has completed an $8 million Series A Round led by Galaxy Interactive, one of the largest venture capital funds dedicated to the video game and interactive sector. The funds will be used to accelerate game development, R&D and international expansion. Galaxy Interactive gaming partner and co-head Ryan You has joined NEKCOM’s board of directors.
NEKCOM is currently in advanced development for Showa American Story, a post-apocalyptic RPG game with a gripping story and characters, that melds ‘80’s American and Japanese pop culture, music, and style. The main character, “Chouko,” wakes up in a grave in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, which has become a Japanese colony in this alternate universe. Players follow on her journey to find her missing sister and discover what occurred over the previous decade while fighting zombies, monsters, and human survivors. The Showa American Story trailer has already been viewed 50 million times globally. The game will be available on PS4, PS5, and PC.
Also in development is the first sequel in the NEKCOM DYING series, DYING:1983, an immersive, first-person, room escape game developed on Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). It will utilise the PS5 DualSense controller haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to enhance the gameplay experience.
As the first step of the company’s international growth, NEKCOM recently established NEKCOM US Studio, in New York City, focused on building a U.S. player community and developing strategic business opportunities.
NEKCOM has appointed Kimmy Li, a successful interactive entertainment and technology executive, as chief executive officer of NEKCOM USA. She will focus on international management, building teams, strategic partnerships, and business development, as well as leveraging NEKCOM’s unique creative vision and enviable technology capabilities.
“NEKCOM is an independent game company dedicated to creating distinctive and exciting experiences for gamers worldwide. The U.S. has been strategically important for NEKCOM since Day One, as we are focused on our high-level console and PC game development. We are excited to open our office in Manhattan, led by Kimmy Li to drive international expansion. Our development team in China will benefit from her vast business experience as we continue development of both our DYlNG and Showa series,” says NEKCOM founder and chairman Xiangyu Luo.
Li has 20 years of diverse experience in business management at Fortune 500 companies and startups in the U.S. and China. She has a proven track record in creating new business model strategies, business development, technology product innovation, marketing and raising capital.
“Our focus at NEKCOM is on developing iconic, highly distinctive titles that will excite and enthrall players for decades.We plan to expand our development capacity, maximise our intellectual property portfolio, and expand the NEKCOM brand of high quality, instantly recognisable games. The Galaxy Interactive team has a deep understanding and network in the global video game industry and we’re fortunate to have them as a partner to help advance our goals,” says Li.
“We believe the NEKCOM team has the development, creativity, and programming prowess to become a major game company brand and top developer, led by Xiangyu Luo, Kimmy Li and the leadership team.They have an impressive pipeline of both game content and development technologies they will leverage for growth. Their unique creative direction drives their passion for developing distinctive games and IP like Showa American Story,” says Galaxy Interactive partner Ryan You.
