Blazing Griffin secures £5m in funding to support further studio growth

Scottish digital entertainment group Blazing Griffin has just completed its Series A round of venture capital financing, the company announced today, raising a total of 5m led by private investors and matched by the Scottish Investment Bank.

Blazing Griffin says the funds will be used to help support its continued growth and expand its game development portfolio, film output and post production services. It will also use the funds to triple its current headcount over the coming months, expanding its team of 30 to 90 members of staff.

The company is currently working on a number of unannounced and on-going game development projects, but it says it plans to build at least two new development teams off the back of the funding as well as the money raised from the launch of its most recent PC title, The Ship: Remasted.

Its post-production team, meanwhile, has just created a new facility in Glasgow that specialises in remote workflows with international and UK partners. It’s the first of its kind in Scotland and aims to service UK-wide and international projects thanks to its 4K delivery capabilities. Its recent credits include Outlander, Shetland and Waterloo Road.

Blazing Griffin’s film department has also recently announced the start of principal photography for its first feature film, Anna and the Apocalypse, a Creative Scotland-backed film starring Ella Hunt and Paul Kaye.

Blazing Griffin managing director Peter van der Watt commented: Having the hard work of all The Griffins be recognised in this way is an awesome feeling. I can’t wait for people to see everything we’re currently working on and very much looking forward to sharing all of our plans over the next couple of weeks and months.

"We all appreciate the continued support and confidence our investors and Scottish Enterprise have in our ambitious plan to become one of Scotland’s largest entertainment companies.”

Kerry Sharp, head of Scottish Investment Bank added: Scottish Enterprise has been working with Blazing Griffin for over three years during which we have seen the company go from a fledgling games development studio to a diversified digital entertainment group.

Following on from our initial investment in February 2015, we are delighted to again support the group’s growth plans and, capitalising on the talented team it continues to build in Scotland, look forward to seeing the company createbrilliant content across its games, film and post production portfolio that will be enjoyed by a global audience”.