The funding will be used to accelerate the development of Golden Tides, which the studio describes as a “pirate-themed 4v4 Adventure MOBA.”
Unlike traditional entries in the genre that rely on rigid lane structures and long match times, Golden Tides aims to break the mold with 20-25 minute matches centered on open-world exploration and ship-to-ship naval combat.
Psychedelic Games bypassed traditional venture capital, opting instead for strategic partners who bring operational value:
- KRAFTON: The South Korean giant brings massive publishing expertise and a history of fostering genre-defining hits.
- FlyQuest: This marks the North American esports organization’s first-ever direct investment in a game studio. FlyQuest intends to collaborate early in the development cycle to help shape the game’s competitive framework.
- Arbitrum Gaming Ventures: A strategic initiative focused on supporting teams that challenge established gaming conventions and explore new technological frontiers.
A Veteran Crew at the Helm
The team at Psychedelic Games isn’t new to the high-stakes world of live-service gaming. The studio’s roster includes veterans from some of the biggest titles in the industry, including League of Legends, Fortnite, PUBG, Call of Duty: Warzone, and ARK: Survival Evolved.
Devin Richman, CEO of Psychedelic Games, commented on the vision behind the project:
“The MOBA genre created some of the most beloved competitive games of the past fifteen years, but the formula has grown stale. Golden Tides asks what a MOBA looks like when you strip away the constraints and rebuild around freedom, exploration, and the chaos of naval combat.”
Devin Richman, CEO of Psychedelic Games
Redefining the MOBA Formula
Golden Tides is designed to remove the “slog” often associated with the genre. Key features include:
- No Lanes, No Towers: Replaced by a focus on land-and-sea exploration to find and fight over buried treasure.
- Naval Warfare: A heavy emphasis on skillshot-driven ship combat.
- Diverse Roster: Over 12 characters across tank, support, and damage roles, featuring unconventional mechanics like cooking and spellcasting.
Currently in development for PC, the studio has hinted at broader platform expansion following the initial launch.
With playtests returning in Q1 2026, Psychedelic Games is inviting “aspiring pirates” to sign up for early access via their official website.
