African-owned mobile game developer Rise of Fearless has secured $1m (about R16.5m as of writing) in funding from advisory firm Epic Edges Capital to expand its battle royale game and grow its presence in international markets.
The investment, structured as a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (Safe), will fund recruitment, technology, infrastructure, marketing and community-building as the company scales its operations.
Launched in 2025, Rise of Fearless is a mobile battle royale game inspired by African history and culture. Its storyline draws on Ethiopia's victory at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, while its characters, environments and visual design reflect African identities and experiences.
The free-to-play game is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It has recorded more than 15,000 downloads, with its largest player communities in Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.
Building an African gaming franchise
Founder Kanessa Muluneh said the funding would help the company move beyond growing downloads towards building a wider African gaming ecosystem, with a focus on African intellectual property ownership and talent development.
The investment will also support the addition of international developers and gaming executives to the team as the company prepares for wider distribution and commercial growth.
New partners include Miniboss Solutions, which will support publishing and marketing; IDG Intelligence, which will provide market research and strategic advice; Trick Question Studios, which will work on franchise development and creative direction; and Spectra Entertainment, a game development studio.
The expanded team brings experience from companies including Ubisoft, PlayStation, Capcom, Take-Two Interactive, Marvel and Disney.
Muluneh said the company also wants to address challenges facing African game developers, including access to reliable technology, servers and cross-border payment infrastructure.
Growth in African gaming
The investment comes as Africa's gaming market expands, with the continent estimated to have more than 400 million gamers and gaming revenue projected to reach $1.98bn in 2026, according to figures cited by the company.
Mobile gaming accounts for most of the activity, reflecting the importance of smartphones to the continent's gaming market.
Rise of Fearless aims to build an internationally distributed gaming franchise while retaining African ownership of its intellectual property.
