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Coplay, the AI copilot for game developers, today announced it has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its mission of streamlining game development.
The goal is to automate repetitive tasks in game engines that bog developers down. The funding round was led by Failup Ventures, with participation from Tower Research Ventures, Founders Inc., Sequoia Scouts and other investors.
Currently in closed beta, Coplay is already saving developers up to five hours per week, reducing repetitive tasks in game engines, and unlocking creativity, the company said.
Coplay said that, as a game developer, you spend 50% of your time in code and 50% inside the game engine. The problem with game engines is that their deeply nested point-and-click interface leads to tedious repetitive tasks. After seeing the power of large language models (LLMs) for AI and agents, the team realized it could eliminate and automate all of the game engine tedium with AI, the company said in an email to GamesBeat.
While the code copilot space includes notable products like Cursor, Codeium, and Bolt, Coplay takes a unique approach by providing a natural language interface for traditionally complex software. Coplay offers a groundbreaking chat interface that empowers game developers to control the Unity game engine, replacing cumbersome nested click interfaces and automating tedious tasks. With Coplay, developers can effortlessly create, assign, optimize, and debug any game objects, assets, and properties in their project—all through natural language commands.
Additionally, Coplay integrates with popular 3D and image generation tools, enabling rapid iteration directly within the game engine.
One of its standout features is the “record and replay” capability, which replicates repetitive processes to significantly enhance iteration speed. For larger projects with hundreds of assets and tens of thousands of files, Coplay’s automation capabilities streamline workflows, manage live updates, and reduce errors—allowing teams to focus on creativity and deliver exceptional gaming experiences.
Coplay has attracted over 400 developers across 22 studios on its waitlist, and plans to expand its integrations to additional game engines.
Jos van der Westhuizen, CEO of Coplay, said in a statement, “Our vision is to empower game developers by automating tedious tasks, allowing them to focus on crafting amazing experiences. With this funding, we’re not just building a tool—we’re creating an AI partner that fundamentally transforms how games are made. We believe this innovative approach positions Coplay as more than just a developer copilot; it’s a pioneering step toward redefining the future interface for all software.”
The Coplay founding team brings a wealth of expertise to their mission. Jos van der Westhuizen, who has a doctorate in AI from Cambridge University, has scaled a tech startup to 1.5 million users.
Coplay cofounders Joned Sarwar (cofounder of AI analytics startup Alchera) and Marcus Sanatan, (organizer of the largest game jam in the Caribbean), together have over a decade of experience building scalable systems and developing more than 30 games. Their combined expertise uniquely equips them to tackle the biggest challenges in game development.
Jesse Heikkilä at Failup Ventures said in a statement, “Many AI solutions in the gaming space, like asset
generators or NPC enhancers, feel like point solutions rather than holistic transformations. What excites me about Coplay is its ground-up approach — a fresh take on the game engine itself. I believe the games industry will be democratized by a technology company that can make the entire game development process accessible through natural language. When I came across Coplay, it was clear that their vision perfectly aligned with this thesis.”
Jared Young at Tower Research Ventures said in a statement, “The video game market is growing rapidly
worldwide, yet game development is long overdue for disruption. Coplay’s AI solution addresses a universal pain point for developers, offering a transformative tool that has the potential to become a must-have for studios. With a team that brings deep expertise and a truly innovative approach, Coplay is well positioned to capitalize on this significant growth opportunity in the industry.”
Game developers are invited to join Coplay’s closed beta waitlist to be among the first to experience the future of game development.
Founded by Jos van der Westhuizen, Joned Sarwar, and Marcus Sanatan, the San Francisco-based team brings over a decade of experience in scalable systems and game development. There are four people in the company.
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