PlaySafe ID Secures $1.12M to Boost Trust in Gaming Communities
▼ Summary
– PlaySafe ID raised $1.12M in pre-seed funding to combat cheating, hacking, and predatory behavior in gaming while preserving player privacy.
– The funding round was led by Early Game Ventures, with participation from Hartmann Capital and Overwolf, aiming to expand the platform and reach 250,000+ users.
– PlaySafe ID provides a verified, anonymous digital ID to ensure fair play and child safety, addressing issues like cheating and inappropriate behavior across games.
– CEO Andrew Wailes was inspired by personal frustrations with gaming toxicity and a desire to create accountability, leading to the platform’s development.
– The platform uses zero-knowledge verification via Onfido to maintain privacy while enforcing penalties for violations like cheating or child grooming.
PlaySafe ID, a pioneering platform dedicated to creating safer gaming environments, has secured $1.12 million in pre-seed funding to combat cheating, hacking, and predatory behavior in online games. The investment will accelerate the company’s mission to foster trust and fairness in gaming communities while preserving player privacy.
The funding round was spearheaded by Early Game Ventures, with contributions from Hartmann Capital and Overwolf. The capital injection will support rapid expansion, strategic partnerships, and platform integrations as PlaySafe ID prepares for a major market launch, targeting over 250,000 users in the near future.
Andrew Wailes, CEO of PlaySafe ID, emphasized the urgency of their mission: “Cheating in games has become an epidemic, ruining the experience for millions of players daily. With new regulations like the Online Safety Act demanding better child protection in gaming, our solution isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for compliance and the future of the industry.”
How PlaySafe ID Works
Built with privacy as a priority, PlaySafe ID provides gamers with a verified, anonymous digital identity that confirms their legitimacy without exposing personal data. This game-agnostic ID ensures players haven’t been flagged for cheating or misconduct, addressing two major pain points in online gaming: accountability and safety.
By integrating with multiple games, the platform allows developers to enforce fair play without compromising anonymity or creativity. Cristian Munteanu, managing partner at Early Game Ventures, highlighted the network effect: “Once a gamer is verified, that ID works across all supported games. The more developers adopt it, the more valuable it becomes—eventually becoming a standard layer in gaming, much like Steam or Xbox Live profiles.”
The Need for Accountability in Gaming
Felix Hartmann of Hartmann Capital pointed out the broader implications: “Gaming is now a global social hub with over 3 billion players, yet it lacks a unified system for accountability. Bad actors exploit fragmented platforms by creating new accounts after bans. PlaySafe introduces a digital judicial system to restore fairness and safety.”
From Frustration to Innovation
Wailes’ inspiration for PlaySafe ID stemmed from personal frustration. “Cheating was rampant in every game my friends and I played. Then, after becoming a father, I realized child safety was another critical issue—both problems shared the same root cause: zero consequences for offenders.”
After months of research and prototyping, Wailes assembled a team of industry veterans from Google and Jagex to bring his vision to life. The platform’s verification process, powered by Onfido, ensures compliance with UK and EU data privacy laws while preventing identity fraud.
What’s Next?
PlaySafe ID is currently in talks with major gaming platforms, with the first integrations expected later this year. “Our goal is simple,” Wailes added. “Make gaming fairer, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone—players, parents, and developers alike.”
With its innovative approach and strong investor backing, PlaySafe ID is poised to redefine trust in the gaming world.
(Source: VentureBeat)
