Generative AI has undoubtedly been the big buzzword of the past year, driven in large part by Microsoft-backed OpenAI
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European startup Versed aims to capitalize on the growing interest in generative AI by offering a platform that allows users to create their own role-playing games (RPGs) through text-based stories and instructions. The company, founded just four months ago in the Netherlands, has raised €1.6 million ($1.7 million) in a pre-seed funding round led by Google's Gradient Ventures.
Unlike other generative AI efforts in gaming, Versed focuses on empowering creators who lack coding skills. By writing a story, users can generate fully immersive 3D worlds with turn-based combat, branching dialogue, and all the elements that make RPGs engaging. The platform's AI interprets the narrative and assigns characters and locations from an internal database to bring the game world to life.
Versed's co-founders, Cat Burton and Robert Gaal, have assembled a remote-first team across the U.K., Denmark, Bulgaria, and the U.S. With plans to scale the business and transition from early-alpha to a commercial product in the coming year, the recent funding will support the company's growth.
Generative AI has gained traction in the gaming industry, enabling the creation of original visual assets and even entire virtual worlds. Versed's unique approach of empowering non-developers to create RPGs through storytelling sets it apart from competitors focused on engineering and coding. The company's vision aligns with the increasing opportunities that generative AI presents, enabling the realization of creative ideas that were previously unimaginable.
