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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Blue Ocean Games announced a $30 million early-stage fund backed by KRAFTON, with a stated goal of supporting about 100 indie developers over three years. Its Rising Tide Challenge gives developers a way to showcase a game concept and potentially reach investment review—not a promise of funding. The fund’s published SAIL summary describes investments of up to $300,000 in exchange for equity and, in some circumstances, a revenue share.
What Blue Ocean Games announced
VentureBeat reported the fund announcement on April 22, 2025. Blue Ocean Games said the $30 million fund was intended to support about 100 indie developers over three years, with KRAFTON backing the fund. Damian Lee was identified by VentureBeat as Blue Ocean Games’ founder and managing partner. VentureBeat’s April 22, 2025 report covers the announcement.
The fund is not described as a grant program. Blue Ocean Games presents SAIL—Structured Agreement for Indie Launch—as an investment arrangement for early-stage teams, and the challenge is one route to consideration.
How the Rising Tide Challenge connects to funding
For its first challenge, Blue Ocean Games partnered with Global Game Jam and asked teams to submit a short, polished, in-engine trailer presenting a game concept. The original event ran May 1–31, 2025. The announcement said the top 20 teams would have their applications fast-tracked for consideration for up to $300,000, in addition to cash prizes. Fast-tracking meant a route to investment consideration; it did not guarantee that a team would receive an investment. Global Game Jam’s April 22, 2025 announcement describes that first event.
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- GAME OF SWEET REVENGE: Enjoy classic Sorry! gameplay with this Sorry! board game for kids. It's an edge-of-your-seat race to home, so hurry up and get there first
- FIRST ONE HOME WINS: Who will be the first player to get all 3 of their pawns to the home space? But watch out! Players can get "sweet revenge" by sending each other's pawns back to the starting point
- SO MANY POSSIBILITIES: Slide, collide, and score to win the Sorry! game. This family game for kids and adults features so many possibilities depending on the card picked up and strategy chosen
- CLASSIC SORRY! GAMEPLAY: Remember playing the original Sorry! game as a kid? Bring back memories of playing the Sorry! game with family members and introduce it to a new generation
- FAMILY GAME NIGHT FAVORITE: A go-to game for family time or anytime indoor fun, the Sorry! game for kids is one of the best family games for game night
The 2026 event is a separate, later listing
A later Global Game Jam page describes a 2026 return of the Rising Tide Challenge. It lists June 30 as the last day to submit a trailer and says selected teams can be fast-tracked for investment consideration of up to $300,000. The page also describes cash prizes, public-vote selections and judges’ picks. Those details belong to the 2026 event, not the 2025 launch. Because challenge dates and submission status can change, check the live 2026 event page for current availability before preparing or submitting an entry.
What the published SAIL terms say
Blue Ocean Games’ official funding page describes SAIL as offering up to $300,000. Its public summary lists two separate financial components:
Rank #2
- UNO card game provides classic play, where players match colors or numbers in a race to get rid of all their cards!
- Action Cards and Wild Cards add unexpected excitement and game-changing fun, like the Reverse Card that switches the direction of play!
- The deck includes 3 blank Wild Cards for house rules anyone can make up -- erase and create new rules each game!
- When down to one card, players don't want to forget to yell 'UNO!' Keep score and the first player or team to 500 wins!
- The color blind accessible deck has special graphic symbols on each card to help identify its color, allowing players with any form of color blindness to play!
- Equity: The investor receives 20% equity, according to the funding page.
- Revenue share: The page states a share of up to 30%. It says this revenue share is removed if the team successfully raises a seed round within two years, and applies only after the team has secured enough cash for two years of operations.
These are the fund’s published summary terms, not a substitute for the signed agreement. Before accepting an investment, read the actual contract and clarify how equity is defined, how and when revenue share is calculated, what counts as a successful seed round, and how the two-year operating-cash condition is assessed. Ask for the applicable milestones, disbursement schedule, spending controls, eligibility rules and any IP provisions in writing; the public summary alone does not establish those details.
Who should apply, and by which route?
Blue Ocean Games says most teams should apply through the Rising Tide Challenge. Its funding page describes an alternate funding application for teams that have already received external funding for the game or studio, or that already have strong market validation, such as wishlists or followers. That distinction can help teams choose a route, but it does not establish that every applicant will qualify or that applications are currently open. Use the funding page for the fund’s current public instructions and availability.
Rank #3
- Hot or cold. Soft or hard. Wizard or…not a wizard? Work together to decide where your clue falls on the spectrum in this telepathic party game.
- POLYGON: “One of the best party games we’ve ever played.”
- NYT WIRECUTTER: Featured in “The best board games”
- Works in groups from 2-12+ people. Great for large parties, offsites, family gatherings, and anywhere you need instant fun.
- 5 seconds to set up, 1 minute to learn, 30 minutes to play
What to compare before taking early-stage funding
A maximum investment amount by itself does not show whether a deal suits a particular studio. When comparing this route with other funding, look at the full economics and operating conditions:
- Project stage: Blue Ocean Games describes SAIL as designed for pre-demo teams. Check whether your game and studio fit the fund’s current eligibility criteria.
- Capital and timing: Confirm the amount offered to your team, when funds are disbursed, and whether payments depend on milestones. The public summary states a maximum, but does not provide a complete disbursement schedule.
- Ownership and revenue: Understand the 20% equity and up-to-30% revenue-share terms, including how the agreement treats future financing and revenue calculations.
- Control and obligations: Review milestones, spending restrictions, reporting duties and what happens if development plans change.
- IP and support: Establish who owns the game and related IP, and what services or operational help are actually included. Do not assume support descriptions replace written contract terms.
- Application status: Verify the current route, deadlines and required materials on Blue Ocean Games’ funding page or the live challenge page before relying on an event date.
The available public information supports reviewing Blue Ocean Games’ own terms, but does not provide enough comparable contract details to rank it against named competing funds. Treat the challenge as a possible introduction to investment review, then assess any actual offer on its contract—not its prize or headline maximum.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering resources, building infrastructure, and nurturing trade relationships.
- STRATEGY AND COMPETITION: Compete with 2-3 opponents to expand your settlements and cities while managing resources and avoiding the robber.
- TRADE, BUILD, AND SETTLE: Use brick, wood, wheat, ore, and sheep to construct roads, settlements, and cities in your race to 10 victory points.
- REPLAYABLE AND ENGAGING: With a modular hexagonal board, no two games are the same, offering endless strategic opportunities and replayability.
- FOR FAMILIES AND STRATEGY ENTHUSIASTS: Designed for 3-4 players, ages 10 and up, CATAN 6th Edition is perfect for family game nights and friendly competition. Add the CATAN 5-6 Player Extension (sold separately) to expand your game to 5-6 players.
Rank #4
- INTRODUCING A DIGITAL DIE: More suspense, more surprises, more laughs! In this Jenga game, enjoy the classic Jenga gameplay fans love—or dare to play it with the digital die for added challenges
- 6 MORE WAYS TO PLAY: Roll the digital die for unpredictable challenges: play using thumbs only, race against the clock, and more! (To download the die onto a phone, scan the in-pack QR code or access the web app. No additional purchase needed)
- HILARIOUS CHALLENGES: Actions like “Team-Up” amp up the fun! A player who rolls it selects another player to act as their eyes. The other player can guide their arm, but can’t touch the tower—or topple it
- EXCITING GAME FOR PARTIES OR SOLO PLAY: The Jenga game for kids and adults is the wooden block balancing game livening up parties for generations. No friends around? No problem. Play solo to beat a personal best
- GENUINE WOOD BLOCKS: The Jenga party game includes 54 precision crafted wooden blocks. Pull out a block, place it on top, but don't let the tower fall in this original wood block game
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