Squido Studio has raised $3 million in funding to develop DigiGods, an ambitious social extended reality (XR) platform.
The Montreal-based maker of immersive virtual experiences said it secured the funding to accelerate the development and global rollout of DigiGods.
Triptyq Capital led the investment round, with pled by Triptyq Capital, attracted prominent strategic investors like Grishin Robotics, FJ Labs, Hartmann Capital, Fairway Capital, Earthling VC, and the Canada Media Fund (CMF), which contributed $1.1M through its Innovation in Experimentation Program.
Forget pre-built worlds with limited interactions. DigiGods opens the doors to a universe crafted for discerning Gen Z and Alpha users who demand full immersion. Players can build anything, make objects playable, hang out with friends, and create epic adventures together, from neon cityscapes to fantastical forests.
“DigiGods stands out in the crowded social gaming world with unparalleled creative freedom and emotional connection,” says David Chartrand, CEO and co-founder of Squido Studio. “Our mission is clear: to build an authentic, interactive virtual space where users create and connect. We’re ramping up development, growing our team, and launching DigiGods globally to create an immersive playground like no other.”
With this funding, Squido Studio plans to expand its team in Montreal, attracting top talent who are passionate about XR development. This is an exciting opportunity for Quebec-based developers to contribute to advancing social gaming.
“With their innovative platform and talented team, Squido is poised to shape the future of social interaction in XR,” says Bertrand Nepveu, Partner at Triptyq Capital. “The strength of this experience is fostering a sense of community in ways that traditional social media platforms cannot.”
Experience the potential of social XR
DigiGods is more than a game; it’s a mixed-reality social sandbox designed to redefine how Gen Z and Alpha connect, create, and collaborate. Centered in spatial computing, DigiGods breaks free from traditional limitations with features like:
- Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Creation Tools: Users of all skill levels can quickly unleash their creativity and build virtual worlds.
- Instant Experience Loading: Inspired by younger generations’ fast-paced content consumption habits, DigiGods has powerful cloud support that eliminates wait times for seamless immersion.
- Advanced Hand-Tracking and Mixed Reality Integration: Natural interactions and the ability to blend virtual and physical environments create a truly immersive experience.
- Real-time Multiplayer Physics Sandbox: Collaborative play reaches new heights with physics-based interactions that make every experience dynamic and engaging.
Proven Leadership in XR
Squido Studio has a history of pushing boundaries. The company’s debut VR title, No More Rainbows, generated over $2 million in its first year and reached an audience of more than 500,000 players. Co-founders David Chartrand and Philippe Cournoyer have a proven track record in XR, positioning them perfectly to redefine social VR with DigiGods.
Currently in Early Access, DigiGods has already attracted over 100,000 players and boasts a 4.8/5 rating from more than 8,000 user reviews on the Meta Quest Store. By the end of the year, Squido aims to reach one million players, supported by major content updates, partnerships, player perks, and influencer collaborations.
Support from Meta has been pivotal to Squido’s success, offering critical visibility within the rapidly expanding VR ecosystem. With Meta’s VR user base growing by over 50% annually and Meta Quest products seeing a 75% increase in engagement, this relationship ensures a safe and positive community experience through advanced moderation tools.
Building on No More Rainbows’s early and growing success, DigiGods is already proving its ambitious potential to appeal to an even broader audience in early access.
The studio started in 2019 and Chartrand said in an email to GamesBeat that the company has 22 people, up from 16 a few months ago.
As for the inspiration for DigiGods, Chartrand said, “The inspiration behind DigiGods stems from our passion for innovating within the XR gaming space. We desire to encapsulate the best aspects of VR technology into compelling, feature-rich games that push the industry forward. The initial idea was inspired by the dynamic and quick content delivery seen in platforms like TikTok, where users can rapidly build and experience diverse creations. It quickly became a much bigger thing. “
In short, it delivered via TikTok, made a Roblox ecosystem without the need for complex game tools, and it focused on VR first.
As for what made it unique, Chartrand said, “Its user-friendly interface allows players to create and modify immersive experiences with drag-and-drop simplicity quickly. This capability enables players to construct various gameplay environments in mere minutes—from horror mansions to low-gravity soccer matches or an FPS deathmatch—and easily switch between them. Adding new thematic content each month, such as unique art directions, building blocks, and cosmetics, keeps the game fresh and engaging.”
He added, “Upcoming collaborations with some of the biggest names in gaming and entertainment will introduce new building elements and items, enhancing the creative possibilities available to players. Stay tuned for a very exciting Kaiju update.”
