Coplay raises $1.2M to build AI copilot for game devs

role playAI co-pilot for game developers today announced it has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its mission of simplifying game development.

The goal is to automate repetitive tasks in game engines that plague developers. The round was led by Failup Ventures, with participation from Tower Research Ventures, Founders Inc., Sequoia Scouts and other investors.

Currently in closed beta, Coplay is already saving developers up to five hours per week, reducing repetitive tasks in game engines and unleashing creativity, the company said.

Coplay says that as a game developer, you spend 50% of your time on the code and 50% on the game engine. The problem with game engines is that their deeply nested point-and-click interfaces lead to tedious repetitive tasks. The company said in an email to GamesBeat that after seeing the power of large language models (LLMs) of artificial intelligence and agents, the team realized it could eliminate and automate all the tedious work of game engines through artificial intelligence. .

While the coding copilot space includes well-known products such as Cursor, Codeium, and Bolt, Coplay takes a unique approach by providing natural language interfaces for traditionally complex software. Coplay provides a breakthrough chat interface that enables game developers to control the Unity game engine, replacing cumbersome nested point-and-click interfaces and automating tedious tasks. With Coplay, developers can easily create, assign, optimize and debug any game object, asset and property in their project – all through natural language commands.

Additionally, Coplay integrates with popular 3D and image generation tools for rapid iteration directly within the game engine.

One of its standout features is the “record and replay” function, which replicates repetitive processes to significantly increase iteration speed. For large projects with hundreds of assets and tens of thousands of files, Coplay’s automation features streamline workflows, manage instant updates, and reduce errors, allowing teams to focus on creativity and delivering a superior gaming experience.

Coplay has attracted more than 400 developers from 22 studios and plans to expand its integration to other game engines.

“Our vision is to empower game developers by automating tedious tasks so they can focus on building amazing experiences,” Coplay CEO Jos van der Westhuizen said in a statement. “With this funding, we More than just building a tool, we’re creating an AI partner that fundamentally changes the way games are made. We believe this innovative approach makes Coplay more than just a developer co-pilot; it’s redefining. A groundbreaking step for the future of interfaces for all software.

The Coplay founding team brings a wealth of expertise to their mission. Jos van der Westhuizen holds a PhD in artificial intelligence from the University of Cambridge and scaled a technology startup to 1.5 million users.

Coplay co-founders Joned Sarwar (co-founder of AI analytics startup Alchera) and Marcus Sanatan (organizer of the largest gaming competition in the Caribbean) have more than a decade of experience building scalable systems and developing over 30 games. Their combined expertise allows them to tackle the biggest challenges in game development.

Jesse Heikkilä of Failup Ventures said in a statement: “Many artificial intelligence solutions in gaming, such as asset
Generators or NPC enhancers that feel like point solutions rather than wholesale transformations. What excites me about Coplay is its innovative approach—a fresh take on the game engine itself. I believe the gaming industry will be democratized by a technology company that can enable the entire game development process through natural language. When I met Coplay, it was clear that their vision was completely aligned with this paper.

“The video game market is growing rapidly,” Tower Research Ventures’ Jared Young said in a statement.
on a global scale, but game development is long overdue for disruption. Coplay’s AI solution solves a common pain point for developers, providing a transformative tool that has the potential to become a must-have for studios. With a team with deep expertise and a truly innovative approach, Coplay is well-positioned to capitalize on this significant growth opportunity in the industry.

Game developers are invited to join Coplay’s closed beta waiting list and become the first to experience the future of game development.

Founded by Jos van der Westhuizen, Joned Sarwar and Marcus Sanatan, the San Francisco-based team has more than a decade of experience in scalable systems and game development. There are four people in the company.