SignalPlay raises $25M to found a social-gaming studio and launches Whirl beta

Gaming · 3 min read

SignalPlay announced a $25 million seed-plus round led by Lantern Fund to establish a studio focused on social, short-session games that emphasize co-play and creativity. Alongside the funding, the studio released Whirl in closed beta—a microgame hub combining quick co-op challenges, avatar customization, and user-created levels.

Whirl is built on a live-service backend with an emphasis on social discovery and creator monetization. The studio’s roadmap includes a player-driven marketplace for cosmetic items and in-game events curated by community creators.

SignalPlay said the funding will be used to grow live-ops teams, expand community moderation capabilities, and fund cross-platform launches later this year. The studio aims to iterate rapidly with community feedback and plans to open Whirl’s creator tools to a small cohort next month.