Generative AI in Gaming: Titan AI Secures Over $500K in Pre-Seed Funding
Generative AI is capturing substantial investment attention, especially in the gaming sector. Titan AI, an emerging mobile game studio, successfully raised over $500,000 in pre-seed funding, with Berkeley SkyDeck leading the round. Joining a growing list of generative AI gaming startups, Titan AI aims to streamline the creation of 2D and 3D game content, significantly lowering production costs that can exceed $250,000 for complex mobile games.
Leveraging advanced image generators like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E, Titan AI crafts 2D graphics, which are then integrated with proprietary technology to produce 3D models. Additionally, the company is developing AI capabilities to construct various level segments—easy, medium, and hard—a process highlighted by co-founder Fabien-Pierre Nicolas as traditionally “labor-intensive.”
Co-founded by Nicolas, the former vice president of U.S. marketing at SmartNews, and Victor Ceitelis, the ex-co-founder of Scenario (a generative AI firm facilitating custom image generation for game developers), Titan AI prioritizes inclusivity by creating games that represent a diverse range of players.
“With our backgrounds, we recognized the need to enhance representation in games—an essential component of modern entertainment culture,” said Nicolas. He grew up with an LGBTQ+ parent and has a Korean wife, while Ceitelis, of Latinx heritage, was raised by Chilean parents. “Many games portray heroes as they plunder treasures from Mesoamerican cultures. Ceitelis pointed out that his community is rarely depicted as the protagonist.” To challenge this narrative, Titan AI's inaugural game, Aztec Spirit Run, features a central character racing against Conquistadores to protect the temple's treasures.
In addition to Aztec Spirit Run, the studio has launched three prototypes: KPop Dream Run, Reptile Dream Run, and Holy Bible Run: Jesus Miracles.
Exploring the Potential of Endless Runner Games
Endless runner games, such as Temple Run and Subway Surfers, have maintained popularity for over a decade, making it a strategic choice for developers experimenting with generative AI. Titan AI is utilizing this technology to create an array of customizable in-game characters, including unique outfits and tattoos. Future updates will introduce enhancements that allow characters to run faster and collect special items like golden skulls.
“Through our initial research, we found that individuals from typically underrepresented demographics enjoy playing runner games,” Nicolas noted. However, despite their addictive nature, some may argue that the genre is oversaturated. The exciting possibilities for generative AI in gaming keep the industry buzzing, and we eagerly anticipate Titan AI's next innovations, such as enabling players to craft their own in-game avatars from scratch.
“Our use of the runner format serves to showcase our platform's capabilities in creating playable prototypes with 3D elements... Our proprietary AI also allows us to explore new ideas around AI-generated level designs,” Nicolas explained. While he teased the development of another game template, he withheld specific details.
Titan AI is committed to making its games accessible to underserved audiences, offering them for free while generating revenue through in-app advertisements and premium features.
Nicolas views Titan AI’s funding success as a beacon of hope amid prevailing challenges in the gaming industry. “It’s a story of optimism during a time of uncertainty; a new studio is raising money with a mission aimed at positively impacting the world,” he said.
The funding round also involved contributions from seven angel investors, including Andreas Gross (a generative AI product leader at Meta), Benjamin De la Clémendière (co-founder of BlackoutLab), Yury Mazanik (co-founder of Belka Games), and Bob Meese (chief business officer at Duolingo).
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