Gardens Interactive has raised more than $35 million in a Series B funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, bringing the studio's total disclosed funding past the $70 million mark.

The round places Gardens among the larger independently led Series B raises in the games sector over the past several quarters. It also marks a clear vote of confidence from a tier-one venture firm in a founder-led team carrying the design DNA of thatgamecompany's catalogue.

Gardens Interactive was founded by veterans of Journey (2012) and Sky: Children of the Light (2019), both shipped at thatgamecompany. The studio has been hiring across engineering, art, design and production as it builds its debut title.

The funding announcement circulated publicly this week. As one studio leader posted on LinkedIn: "Game studio funding is back."

How does the round change Gardens' operational runway?

For an independent developer at Gardens' headcount range, a Series B above $35 million typically unlocks:

• Hiring across engineering, art, design and live operations
• Marketing budget for launch and post-launch beats
• Platform expansion work, including console certification and PC storefront infrastructure
• Live-ops tooling for seasonal content, events and cosmetics

The size of the check gives Gardens runway to extend production timelines. For a debut title from a veteran team, that runway is the difference between a polished launch and a soft one.

What does a Lightspeed lead typically require?

Lightspeed Venture Partners has a long history in interactive entertainment, with prior investments in companies including Epic Games and Discord. A Series B lead at Lightspeed's tier carries strategic expectations beyond the capital itself: multi-platform release strategy, recurring revenue mechanics, and a defined path toward profitability or a strategic transaction on a four-to-six year horizon.

That profile aligns with what thatgamecompany alumni have historically built. Sky: Children of the Light, in particular, demonstrated that the studio's design lineage can support multi-year player retention and recurring monetization across iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch.

What signals will define Gardens' next phase?

Three indicators will tell outside observers how the studio is converting this capital:

• Public gameplay reveal: A debut trailer, vertical slice, or closed beta within the next 6-12 months
• Hiring velocity: Sustained open roles across engineering, art and live ops through 2026
• Partner ecosystem: A platform holder relationship, publisher deal, or strategic partnership announcement that typically accompanies a round of this size

The Series B closes one funding chapter. The next test is whether Gardens can convert Lightspeed's capital into a shipped title that recaptures the design DNA of Journey and Sky without thatgamecompany's distribution and marketing infrastructure behind it.

Forward signals to watch: the timing of Gardens' first public gameplay window, the studio's hiring footprint in art and animation, and any platform or publisher partnership that typically follows a Series B of this magnitude.