In a major step toward redefining in-app gaming, PlaysOut has closed a $7 million seed funding round at a $70 million valuation. With backing from prominent investors such as OKX Ventures, KBW Ventures, and Pacific Century Group, the multi-engine mini-game platform is poised to dominate a market projected to be worth between $6-10 billion. Co-founder Jassem Osseiran discussed what this funding means for PlaysOut and how the company plans to shape the future of embedded gaming.

Osseiran describes the funding as a “huge step forward” for PlaysOut, allowing the company to focus on three key priorities: expanding its mini-game ecosystem, securing strategic partnerships, and penetrating high-growth markets across the U.S., MENA, and Asia.

“This funding gives us the firepower to double down on what matters — building high-quality mini-games, scaling our ecosystem, and locking in key partnerships with super apps,” Osseiran explains. “We’re creating a seamless, engaging way for users to interact with mini-games inside the apps they already use daily. This capital gets us there faster.”

Strategic Investors Beyond Capital

The investors in this round bring more than just funding, they provide strategic advantages that accelerate PlaysOut’s growth in different regions and industries.

“OKX Ventures connects us to the Web3 space, helping fine-tune our token strategy and reach a massive crypto-native audience,” says Osseiran. “KBW Ventures strengthens our position in MENA, a key market for gaming and digital entertainment, while Pacific Century Group unlocks major tech and media opportunities across Asia.”

With these strategic backers, PlaysOut is positioned to navigate institutional business hurdles and scale efficiently.

A Sleeping Giant: The Rise of Mini-Games

PlaysOut is betting on mini-games as the next frontier of digital engagement. The trend is already evident in China, where WeChat’s mini-games generate billions in revenue. However, the infrastructure for seamless global expansion is still lacking.

“No one has built the infrastructure to help developers seamlessly publish, monetize, and reward users on mini-games outside China,” says Osseiran. “That’s where we step in.”

By enabling platforms like Telegram, Discord, and YouTube to integrate mini-games, PlaysOut aims to help developers reach massive audiences with minimal friction.

Osseiran likens PlaysOut to “Steam for mini-games,” offering an embedded SDK that simplifies integration for developers while providing platforms with a monetization and engagement engine.

“For developers, it means access to massive global audiences, simplified integration, and powerful monetization tools,” he explains. “For platforms, it’s a way to boost user engagement and create new revenue streams without reinventing the wheel.”

Bridging Web2 and Web3

While Web3 promises greater ownership and monetization, many gamers remain indifferent to blockchain technology. PlaysOut’s approach is to make blockchain integration seamless.

“Most gamers don’t care about Web3, they care about great games,” Osseiran notes. “Our focus is on ensuring the experience is smooth, intuitive, and fun.”

By embedding blockchain capabilities under the hood, PlaysOut enables true asset ownership and a more fluid in-game economy without requiring players to engage with complex crypto mechanics.

PlaysOut’s rapid scaling is driven by partnerships with Tencent Cloud, OKX, Aptos, TON, and other major players in the Web2 and Web3 ecosystems.

“Tencent Cloud provides the backbone to deploy seamlessly across regions, while our Web3 partnerships give us access to native communities and blockchain infrastructure,” Osseiran explains. “We’re not just chasing logos, we’re aligning with partners who accelerate our reach.”

PlaysOut’s Role in the Future of In-App Gaming

With giants like LinkedIn, Meta, and Netflix heavily investing in gaming, PlaysOut sees itself as the infrastructure provider enabling any app to integrate gaming effortlessly.

“We’re redefining gaming-as-a-service,” says Osseiran. “Our platform redistributes successful games where they’ll thrive, helping any app — big or small — leverage gaming for engagement and monetization.”

Looking ahead, PlaysOut is preparing to launch its SDK in May, making it even easier for developers to build and deploy games. The platform’s token generation event (TGE) will align incentives and fuel further growth.

“Our commercial product is already in BETA testing on Android, and Apple users will get access via TestFlight soon,” Osseiran shares. “We’re moving fast, and we’re just getting started.”

With a bold vision and the backing of powerful investors, PlaysOut is well on its way to transforming the mini-game ecosystem — one seamless integration at a time.