US-based game publisher WINGS has announced a rebrand and refreshed funding strategy, strengthening its focus on supporting commercially viable games made by women and gender-marginalised developers.
The new funding structure is designed to be easily approachable and understood as WINGS continues its mission to elevate games of all sizes. As shared, the team is specifically looking for projects with a budget of US$500,00 or less, or those with a confirmed finance plan.
There are three newly-defined funding types at the publisher, categorised as: white label, self publish and finishing funds.
WINGS shares refreshed funding model – quick links
What to know about WINGS funding
As shared, white label funding is a more hands-on option. This is for early stage developers who may be releasing their first game or are without experience in scaling. Those successful in applying for white label funding will be given guidance through development and marketing challenges with ‘hands on support’.
The self publish funding is for experienced teams who need financial support to build internal capacity. This funding provides support with businesses development and collaboration opportunities, as well as strategy.
The finishing funds are a bit more self-explanatory. This is for game developers and teams who are under a year from the release of their game and are seeking support to get it over the line. The announcement from WINGS states this funding is to ‘help [applicants] clear those final hurdles with ease and convert more players at launch’.
To better illuminate the three stages of funding, WINGS has also published a fresh FAQ breaking down individual funding strands, and the work that WINGS aims to do.
What WINGS aims to support in future
Astrid Refstrup, CEO of WINGS, recently confirmed to Game Developer that WINGS remains focused on commercial projects, with the added goal of supporting the work of under-represented game developers who have cool, creative ideas.
‘It’s a common misunderstanding that we have application rounds, similar to grants,’ Restrup said.
‘But it’s important to us to make clear that WINGS makes investments for profit – we invest in the best games that we believe have commercial potential. Our mission is, as always, to invest in women and gender-marginalised developers.’
Another, additional goal of WINGS is to be a transparent and useful commercial partner. Restrup noted that existing funding pathways can be tricky to understand, with many hurdles for developers to climb.
‘We welcome all new initiatives and funds that strive for fairer, more transparent models. Having investors and publishers who are experts within certain genres or funding types can benefit developers in those spaces,’ Restrup said.
Going forward, WINGS will continue to be ‘thoughtful’ about which projects it elects to publish, with the right investments allowing the publisher to fund and support even more teams, sustainably.
Sustainability is really key to the organisation, per Restrup, as it aims to continue supporting the work of women and gender-marginalised developers in the years to come.
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