Ares Interactive

Ares Interactive is a privately held game developer and publisher established in 2024 with a focus on cross-platform, free-to-play (F2P) titles. The company was founded by Niccolo De Masi, former CEO of Glu Mobile, who serves as the executive chairman. He is joined by President Mike DeLaet, a veteran of the mobile gaming industry with experience at companies like Scopely, Mattel, and Glu. Ares Interactive is backed by a team of experienced professionals from prominent gaming companies including Glu Mobile, Kabam, and GREE.

The firm's strategy centers on developing and scaling games with proven core gameplay loops, strong live operations, and data-driven user acquisition, increasingly utilizing AI-enabled workflows. This approach is designed to create durable franchises with long-term player engagement. The company operates through two main studios: 7th Inning in San Francisco and Swift Games in Berlin. In February 2026, Ares Interactive secured $70 million in a Series A funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from De Masi, to expand operations, accelerate game development, and invest in shared technology.

Ares Interactive's portfolio includes the live title "Heroes vs Hordes," a survival roguelike RPG that has surpassed 13 million installations. The company is also developing "Baseball Hits 26," a game featuring officially licensed professional baseball players, created by the team at its 7th Inning studio, many of whom previously worked on the "MLB Tap Sports Baseball" series at Glu. Ares aims to fill a gap in the market for mobile baseball games. The business model is free-to-play, generating revenue through in-game purchases and live operations that keep players engaged. The company's advisory board includes notable figures from the tech and gaming industries, such as former Apple VP Matt Fischer and former Kabam COO Kent Wakeford.

Keywords: mobile game developer, free-to-play games, cross-platform gaming, Niccolo De Masi, Mike DeLaet, live operations, game publishing, Heroes vs Hordes, Baseball Hits 26, General Catalyst, Glu Mobile veterans, mobile baseball games, AI game development, 7th Inning studio, Swift Games, survival roguelike, RPG, F2P, player engagement, user acquisition, game monetization, licensed IP games, gaming franchises, mobile entertainment, action games, sports games.