The UAE-based Web3 gaming platform GAM3S.GG, formerly Polkastarter Gaming, announced it closed a $2 million Seed funding round, according to the company.

Mechanism Capital led the investment fund with the participation of Polygon, Double Peak, ArkStream Capital, LD Capital, ROK Capital, Hyperithm, Snackclub, Emurgo Ventures, Eden Ventures, Mix Marvel Ventures, 4SV, CommonWealth Capital, Venly Ventures, TKX Capital, SkyVision Capital, Compute Ventures and MarketAcross, as well as several angel investors in the Web3 gaming space.

 The seed funding round and the development of the Web3 gaming super app support the emirate’s move to a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy. 

GAM3S.GG is a Web3 gaming super app that offers content to analyze the top games and provides users with reviews, guides, news, quests, and annual awards. The startup was founded in 2021 by Omar Ghanem and Daniel Stockhaus.

The seed round raise coincides with a rebrand of the project to align with its new vision. 

The raise will serve to scale and grow the GAM3S.GG gaming superapp — named the “IGN for Web3” by investors and partners. 

The platform currently offers 200+ games listed across 15 chains, and over 60,000+ registered gamers, branding itself as the biggest hub for Web3 gamers since its launch in November 2022.

“Web3 games are a uniquely difficult product to build, let alone the infrastructure surrounding and enabling it. This holds especially true for gaming hubs and aggregators.” Said Ken, Partner at Mechanism Capital.

GAM3S.GG is a member of AD Gaming, an initiative guiding the growth of Abu Dhabi’s gaming sector.

Moreover, gamers’ passion for Web3 gaming is evolving, and GAM3S.GG is building the hub to enable newcomers and natives alike to explore new experiences within one single Web3 gaming super app.

“The gaming industry is at a crossroads; while Web3 offers new exciting possibilities, the lack of quality content and a singular destination for all your Web3 gaming needs has left many gamers lost,” said Omar Ghanem, Co-Founder & CEO at GAM3S.GG.

“Traditional gaming has its IGN and Kotaku, yet the industry isn’t ready for the change that blockchain-powered titles present; and if we wait for them to step in, we’d lose potential early adopters and valuable progress — and that’s why GAM3S.GG was born,” added Ghanem. “We’re not just curating; we’re spotlighting the top games, setting the gold standard, and allowing gamers to engage with games in unprecedented ways as we aim to become the definitive home of Web3 gaming.” 

The team’s mission for GAM3S.GG is to help Web3 gaming reach 100 million users through its platform and content. 

The trusted gateway for gamers is also looking to see the possibilities of blockchain-powered games through upcoming features that aim to show all  Web3 gaming needs.

Sultan Al Riyami, Head of Gaming and eSports at AD Gaming, added: “Abu Dhabi has become a regional hub for Web3 gaming, with the likes of GAM3S.GG leading the way. 

“The comprehensive Web3 gaming ecosystem that they are building will stand them in good stead within a sector so intrinsically focused on community building and engagement, so we look forward to seeing their accelerated growth in Abu Dhabi,” Al Riyami added.

“There’s immense value in platforms that curate and guide, particularly at early stages in new niches, and while we’ve seen plenty of platforms & aggregators rise over the years, GAM3S.GG stands out as a beacon of innovation in Web3 gaming,” said Shreyansh Singh, Head of Investments at Polygon.

“We’ve worked closely with the team over the past 18 months and investing in them isn’t just about backing a platform; it’s about championing a vision where Web3 gaming is accessible, quality games rise above the noise, and where gamers have a trusted compass in this new frontier.”