The Seattle-area independent studio behind hit video game Pacific Drive raised $4 million in seed funding to finance its next project, following the success of its debut title that sold over 1.5 million units.
The round, led by Lifelike Capital, will fund Redmond-based Ironwood Studios’ next game. Pacific Drive, released in February 2024 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC and published by Kepler Interactive, is a “driving survival” game set in 1998 where players build, fix, and customize an old station wagon to survive a science-warped zone in the rural Pacific Northwest. The game features no traditional combat; instead, players must outwit and evade environmental dangers while using scrap metal and scavenged parts to keep their car running.
“As a team we are very thankful for the opportunity to keep making games and at the same time so incredibly excited for what the future of Ironwood holds,” said Cassandra Dracott, Ironwood’s CEO and creative director. “This funding round points us towards the best version of that future and we’re thrilled to work alongside Lifelike Capital to make it a reality.”
Pacific Drive has sold over 1.5 million units since its debut and was released on both Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscription services. Ironwood released a paid expansion, Whispers in the Woods, in October. The funding positions the studio to begin development on its second project while maintaining independence from major publishers.
The success of Pacific Drive demonstrates that independent studios can compete in the crowded gaming market with unique concepts that diverge from traditional genre conventions. The game’s focus on environmental storytelling and vehicle maintenance over combat resonated with players seeking alternative gameplay experiences.
