iBloxx Studios Raises $5.4M to Boost StrayShot’s Global Launch Efforts

Dubai-based iBloxx Studios has secured AED 20 million, roughly $5.4 million, in fresh funding as it pushes ahead with the development of its new title, “StrayShot”. The third-person shooter is currently in closed beta testing, with the new capital set to cover final development stages, global marketing efforts and preparations for launch on home consoles.

Dominik Maier, CEO of iBloxx Studios, said the funding will help deliver StrayShot with “operational quality that meets players’ expectations and allows for long-term presence in the global market”. In other words, they are not just chasing a flashy debut. They want staying power, which in gaming is honestly half the battle.

The studio operates from the DMCC Gaming Centre in Dubai’s free zone and plans to allocate part of the investment to live operations — that means ongoing updates, in-game events and technical support once the game is out in the wild. Anyone who has followed multiplayer titles knows that launching is one thing; keeping players engaged is another kettle of fish altogether.

StrayShot is set in a fictional South American region called Sierra Verde. Players step into the boots of mercenaries facing off against rivals and a gang known as El Fuego. The game features multiple modes, including battle royale, team-based matches and an extraction mode. It is clearly aiming to tap into what has become a crowded, but still lucrative, segment of the market. I’m not always a fan of studios piling into battle royale just because it’s trendy, but if the mechanics are spot on and the world-building feels fresh, there’s still room to stand out.

One interesting layer is the blockchain-based system underpinning the game’s virtual economy. In simple terms, players can own and trade in-game assets. Supporters say this gives gamers more control over digital items. Critics argue it adds complexity and speculation. On the flip side, it does fit into a broader push across the region to experiment with Web3 technologies, particularly in sectors like gaming where digital ownership can feel more tangible.

The company is also working alongside organisations such as Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Xsolla, the global games commerce platform known for supporting distribution and monetisation. That kind of backing can make a real difference when it comes to scaling internationally — marketing a title worldwide is no small feat, and it can quickly become a bit of a faff without the right partners.

Across the MENA region, gaming is no longer a niche hobby. Saudi Arabia alone spends over $1 billion annually on video games, and the UAE has been steadily building infrastructure to attract developers and publishers. I remember attending a small gaming meetup in Dubai a few years ago — a modest room, enthusiastic founders, big dreams. Seeing studios now raise multimillion-dollar rounds? Well… it definitely shows how fast the ecosystem is maturing.

For readers at Arageek who keep an eye on the region’s startup pulse, this deal signals something bigger than one studio’s ambition. It reflects a growing confidence that global gaming hits can, perhaps, be built from here in the Middle East. Whether StrayShot will break through internationally is still an open question, but the funding gives iBloxx a fighting chance — and in this industrty, that’s already a solid start.

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