PlayFirst secures USD16.5m and signs new distribution deal

Games startup, PlayFirst, has raised USD16.5m in Series C funding led by VC firm, DCM. Also contributing to the round were existing investors Trinity Ventures, Rustic Canyon Partners and Mayfield Fund. The deal comes on the same day that PlayFirst signed a new partnership, for an undisclosed sum, with widget maker, RockYou. The deal will see RockYou distribute PlayFirst games through its widget and social network service.

San-Francisco based PlayFirst was founded in 2004 to create shared casual games. Its titles include 'Wedding Dash' - which will be the first game available through RockYou and on RockYou's Facebook app platform - and 'Dream Chronicles'. The new funding round brings total investments in PlayFirst to USD26.5m since it was first founded. According to the Casual Gaming Association, globally the casual games market is worth USD2.25bn, and is growing 20% each year.