A Lancashire-based independent games studio has secured £50k in follow-on funding as it prepares to launch a new mixed reality title on Meta Quest.
Play XD Ltd has received the investment from NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, managed by River Capital and GC Business Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
The funding builds on an initial £100k loan provided in January 2025 and will support two new hires ahead of the company’s upcoming product launch.
Founded by Phil Goddard in 2019, Play XD is currently developing Primal Rumble®, a mixed reality game for the Meta Quest platform. The title was ‘greenlit’ by Meta in July 2024, securing part-funding for development.
With the VR and mixed reality market continuing to expand, the studio is adopting a free-to-play model for Primal Rumble®, generating revenue through in-game character purchases. Play XD also plans to expand onto additional platforms including PSVR2, PC VR, mobile and Steam, as well as future hardware from Google and Apple.
Phil Goddard, Founder and Creative Director of Play XD, said: “River Capital has been instrumental in helping us navigate the challenging development phase of Primal Rumble ® . This additional funding arrived at a crucial time as we were just weeks away from our March development milestone with Meta. The support allows us to bring in the expertise we need to maximise our launch potential and build a strong community around Primal Rumble ® .”
Jonathan Nelson, Investment Manager at River Capital, added: “We’ve worked closely with Phil and the Play XD team since early 2025, and have been impressed by their commitment, technical expertise, and ability to deliver against Meta’s development milestones. This is a talented team working in an exciting growth sector, and we’re delighted to provide this follow-on support as they approach launch. Phil has demonstrated exactly the kind of relationship-focused partnership approach we value at River Capital.”
Sue Barnard, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “Play XD is a great example of the innovation we’re seeing across the North West’s thriving tech and creative sectors. It’s exciting to see a studio from Lancashire securing international partnerships and developing cutting-edge mixed reality content for household names. Through NPIF II, we’re supporting ambitious businesses like this, helping them access the funding they need to scale, create skilled jobs, and contribute to the region’s growing cluster of digital and innovative companies.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment of up to £5m to support small and medium-sized businesses.
