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The Believer Company is a global games developer focused on crafting next-generation open-world multiplayer experiences built upon original intellectual property. The studio emphasizes creating expansive virtual worlds and aims to push boundaries in game development, building products intended to deeply engage and serve their player communities. Their technical approach centers on developing new IP within the multiplayer online gaming space.
The company was co-founded in March 2023 by industry veterans Michael Chow, who serves as CEO, and Steven Snow, the Chief Product Officer. Chow previously held the role of VP at Riot Games, where he was the executive producer for League of Legends: Wild Rift. Snow also brought extensive experience as a former executive producer from Riot Games. Their shared insight revolved around a player-centric philosophy and the ambition to innovate game development practices.
The Believer Company builds for a global audience of players, prioritizing their passion and advocacy in every creation. The long-term vision is to establish a studio renowned for its player-obsessed approach, consistently delivering compelling and expansive multiplayer worlds that resonate deeply with their community. The company is forward-looking, committed to building lasting experiences.
The Believer Company has raised $55.0M across 1 funding round.
The Believer Company has raised $55.0M in total across 1 funding round.
The Believer Company has raised $55.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $55.0M Series A in February 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2023 | $55M Series A | Lightspeed Venture Partners | 2045 Ventures, Afore Capital, Alpaca VC, Alumni Ventures, Aux21 Capital, Golden Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, M13, Makers Fund, Multicoin Capital, Sterling Equity, Trucks Venture Capital, Kevin LIN, Andreessen Horowitz, Ashby Monk, BCF Ventures, Cleveland Avenue, Dune Ventures, Ingeborg Investments, Lauren Loktev, LOUD Capital, Mitch Garber, Revolution, Sixty8 Capital, 1UP Ventures, Andrew Chen, BITKRAFT Ventures, Andrew Chen, Laura Rippy, Riot Games, Michael Eisner | Announced |
The Believer Company has raised $55.0M in total across 1 funding round.
The Believer Company's investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners, 2045 ventures, Afore Capital, Alpaca VC, Alumni Ventures, Aux21 Capital, Golden Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, M13, Makers Fund, Multicoin Capital, Sterling Equity.
# The Believer Company: A Next-Generation Gaming Studio
The Believer Company is a global games studio (not a technology company in the traditional sense, though it develops gaming technology) founded in 2022 and headquartered in Los Angeles[2]. Rather than focusing on a single product, Believer is building a portfolio approach to gaming experiences that span multiple media formats—games, film, music, sports, and interactive entertainment[5]. The company's mission centers on creating "broad, sweeping, holistic experiences" that treat player investment as sacred, measuring success by player belief and engagement rather than traditional monetization metrics[4].
The studio operates with a distinctive philosophy: it will "judiciously" develop new technologies only when existing solutions cannot support player dreams, and it explicitly rejects the industry standard of $70 entry fees and rigid, pre-authored narratives[3]. With fewer than 25 employees as of its last public disclosure, Believer is deliberately lean, prioritizing talent quality and creative vision over scale[2].
Believer was founded by Michael Chow and Steven Snow, both veteran executives from Riot Games[3]. Chow served as Vice President at Riot and Executive Producer on *League of Legends: Wild Rift*, while also co-founding Words with Friends developer Newtoy (which was acquired by Zynga)[1]. He is a three-time serial entrepreneur in games with prior exits to both Zynga and Riot Games, and previously held the role of Chief of Staff at Zynga[1]. This founding duo brings decades of experience shipping some of gaming's most successful franchises—*League of Legends*, *Wild Rift*, *Legends of Runeterra*, *Words with Friends*, *Destiny*, and *Plants vs. Zombies*[4].
The company emerged from a conviction that gaming had reached an inflection point: player dreams once considered impossible were now technically and creatively achievable, and the industry needed a studio willing to think beyond proven formulas[1]. Rather than launching with existing IP, Believer raised $55 million in Series A funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and other backers before announcing any products—a vote of confidence in the founders' vision and execution plan[3].
Believer represents a counter-movement within gaming: a rejection of the live-service, battle-pass, and cosmetic-monetization model that has dominated the industry for the past decade. As player fatigue with derivative sequels and aggressive monetization grows, and as cross-media franchises (Marvel, Star Wars) demonstrate the value of integrated storytelling, Believer's timing aligns with industry-wide questioning of the $70 AAA model[3].
The studio also reflects a broader shift in venture capital: investors are willing to fund long-term, ambitious bets (3-5 year development timelines) in gaming, signaling confidence that the medium is maturing and that patient capital can yield outsized returns[3]. Believer's success or failure will influence how other studios approach player relationships and creative independence in an era of consolidation and corporate risk-aversion.
Believer is betting that the next generation of gaming blockbusters will be built by teams with uncompromising creative vision, deep player empathy, and the financial runway to ignore quarterly earnings pressure. With 3-5 years before launch, the studio faces the classic challenge of pre-revenue startups: maintaining momentum and team cohesion while the industry watches and waits[3].
The company's influence will ultimately depend on execution. If Believer ships a breakout title that proves player-first design and cross-media integration can compete with established franchises, it could reshape how the industry thinks about player relationships and creative freedom. If it struggles, it may become a cautionary tale about the gap between founder pedigree and independent studio success. Either way, the studio's willingness to articulate a different vision—and investors' willingness to fund it—signals that gaming's next chapter will be written by those bold enough to challenge the status quo.
