River Capital in Liverpool provides a £100,000 loan for independent game studio Play XD to support its latest partnership with global tech giant Meta and create nine jobs. Tony McDonough reports

Gaming studio Play XD has secured a £100,000 loan from via River Capital as its latest gaming title in partnership with global tech giant, Meta.

Liverpool-based River Capital has provided the cash through the NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, which is managed by River Capital & GC Business Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.

Lancashire-based Play XD, founded in 2019, has firmly established itself in the gaming industry, securing its significant development partnership with Meta in the summer of 2024. 

Its upcoming virtual reality game, Primal Rumble, has already achieved key development milestones and is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2026 on the Meta Quest platform.

This NPIF II investment will support the creation of nine new skilled jobs in Lancashire, including roles for producers, programmers, artists, and marketing professionals. It will also strengthen Play XD’s capability to deliver on its growth plans.

Phil Goddard, founder and creative director of Play XD, said: “This NPIF II investment from River Capital comes at a crucial time in our growth journey.

“With Meta’s backing and now River Capital’s support, we’re well-positioned to expand our team and deliver an exceptional gaming experience to a global audience while keeping our roots firmly in Lancashire.”

The £660m NPIFII covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium-sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.

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Jonathan Nelson, investment manager at River Capital, added: “Play XD represents the kind of innovative, forward-thinking company we’re excited to support.

“Their successful track record, combined with their recent Meta partnership, showcases the high-calibre tech talent we have in the North. This investment will help them capitalise on a significant market opportunity while creating skilled jobs in the region.”