The funding landscape for video games has shifted significantly in recent years. After a period of accelerated growth during the pandemic, the market moved toward more conservative investor behavior: tighter capital, deeper diligence. Studios now face a funding environment where legal readiness and clear organizational structure matter more than ever.
To support teams approaching these discussions, Odin Law & Media has released the Game Studio Funding Playbook, a free resource designed to help studios understand the legal and strategic foundations behind successful funding.
What To Expect From This Playbook
At a high level, the guide highlights current trends in venture capital, publishing advances, hybrid funding models and game-related M&A, while outlining the materials investors typically request during early diligence to set studios up for funding success.
The playbook also provides a practical look at what studios need in place before conversations begin. It addresses corporate governance, financial documentation, privacy compliance and the organizational steps that can streamline diligence and reduce deal friction. A significant portion of the guide focuses on a studio’s often most valuable asset: intellectual property. It includes a structured Game Dev IP Checklist to help teams evaluate chain-of-title, contractor agreements, trademark planning, open-source risks, and more.
To support negotiation strategy, the playbook introduces key legal questions studios often raise when evaluating investors, publishers or acquirers. These questions help clarify expectations around economic terms, creative autonomy, reporting requirements, milestone definitions, long-term alignment, and more. The guide also discusses how to assess whether a funding partner is the right fit beyond headline valuation or recoup terms.
Why This Playbook Matters Now
The present funding cycle rewards preparedness. Studios that demonstrate organized operations, clean IP ownership, financial transparency and a clear understanding of deal mechanics build immediate credibility with investors and publishers. The Game Studio Funding Playbook aims to reduce uncertainty during these discussions by providing a resource that blends legal expertise with an understanding of how game studios actually operate.
For many teams, funding is a turning point. The right funding can impact not only a single title, but the trajectory of the entire studio. The playbook is built to help navigate that moment with greater clarity and confidence.
The full guide is available as a free download for the game development community.