Topdog, a real-money skill-gaming company, has raised $2.5 million in seed funding to scale its real-time multiplayer gaming platform. The round was led by Boston Seed Capital, with participation from The Raine Group, Bullpen Capital, Versus Ventures, Spoondrift Capital, and Permit Ventures. The company previously raised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, bringing total funding to $4.1 million. Topdog's backers include FanDuel co-founder Nigel Eccles and early investors from DraftKings and FanDuel. The startup offers strategy-based multiplayer games for sports fans, including Basketball Hustle and 21 Hustle. Unlike traditional skill games where players compete separately, Topdog's titles are turn-by-turn experiences where participants play simultaneously and adjust decisions based on opponents. The company will use the funding to accelerate user acquisition and expand its portfolio of sports-focused multiplayer games.

Nex, maker of the family gaming console Nex Playground, has raised over $150 million in new funding. The late-stage Series E round was led by Baillie Gifford and BAI Capital, with participation from NBA Investments, Logitech, Medici Capital Partners, and the Raine Group, alongside a credit facility from JPMorgan. The company plans to use the funds to expand retail distribution and grow its content ecosystem. Nex will launch in Germany later this year, with Japan and Korea planned for 2027. The console has sold over one million units and is available at more than 7,000 US retail locations. Nex has appointed Jeff Shouger, a Niantic veteran, as chief financial officer. Gaming industry veteran Bing Gordon also joins the board of directors.