City From Naught
AI-generative tool for efficient 3D asset creation.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | N/A | $1.0m | Seed |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
City From Naught Inc. is a Toronto-based technology startup operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and video game development. Initially founded in 2019 as an independent game studio, the company has pivoted to focus on creating AI-powered tools alongside its gaming projects. The founders, Shala Chen (CEO) and Leon, were both machine learning engineers prior to establishing the company. Their initial inspiration stemmed from helping a friend deal with a stalker using social engineering techniques, which they then gamified into their first title, 'Keyword: A Spider's Thread'.
While developing 'Keyword', a detective puzzle game released in 2021, the team encountered the time-consuming and costly process of creating 3D models and textures. This challenge led to the creation of an internal AI-generative tool to automate and streamline asset creation. Recognizing its broader potential, this tool was developed into a standalone product named Maliang, named after a Chinese mythical figure whose paintings could come to life. The company's business model now encompasses both the development and sale of its AI tools to other game developers and the creation of its own in-house games, which serve as showcases for their technology. In March 2023, City From Naught secured over $1 million in a pre-seed funding round to further develop Maliang, with support from venture capital firms, the Canada Media Fund, and Ontario Creates. The company claims Maliang can reduce 3D asset creation time by up to 90%.
The studio is actively developing several new projects that leverage its proprietary AI. These include 'Keyword 2: Nightfall', a 3D open-world detective RPG, and 'Brave New Wonders', a factory automation game where players command automatons using plain English. The prototype for 'Keyword 2' has already received accolades, including a 'Best in Play' award at GDC 2024. This dual approach of tool and game development positions the company to capitalize on the growing demand for efficient production pipelines within the global gaming industry.
Keywords: AI generative tools, 3D asset creation, game development, machine learning, procedural generation, detective RPG, indie game studio, automation tools, venture capital, Canada Media Fund, Maliang, Keyword, developer tools, video game production, artificial intelligence for gaming