In a digital landscape saturated with fast-paced, competitive experiences, Loftia offers something refreshingly different: a cozy, social, and environmentally hopeful world, built for and with its community.
Qloud Games, the indie studio behind Loftia, is a fully-remote team headquartered in Australia but globally distributed across the US, Brazil, Belgium, Malaysia, and beyond. Founded in 2022, the studio has grown into one of the most exciting new voices in social gaming, and GFR Fund is proud to be among its earliest investors.
A new-age MMO with a cozy heart
At its core, Loftia is a solarpunk MMO inspired by titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, blending creative gameplay with large-scale multiplayer collaboration. In the floating city of Loftia, players farm, craft, fish, and build together while also joining forces on world-building projects and non-combat “adventures” designed to spark cooperation, not competition.
The solarpunk theme isn’t just aesthetic. It’s aspirational. Loftia envisions a future where sustainability, creativity, and community coexist harmoniously. In an era where Gen Z is turning to games as social spaces and emotional safe havens, Loftia feels perfectly timed.
The founders behind the vision
Qloud Games was co-founded by Michael Su, Martina Qin, and Eric Mallon, each bringing unique skills and personal passions to the table.
- Michael, formerly an engineering manager at Canva, grew up immersed in technology and gaming, bringing a well-rounded blend of team-building and focus on culture, along with technical expertise from his career as an engineer..
- Martina, an ex-product manager and successful content creator with 100k+ followers, naturally led the game’s community-building efforts, documenting the journey and connecting with fans from day one.
- Eric, now CTO, was previously a software architect overseeing hundreds of engineers, and joined the project after connecting online and deeply resonating with the vision of Loftia.
From social media buzz to Kickstarter history
Before a single level was released, Loftia had already struck a chord. Martina’s early content showcasing the development process drew millions of views and built a thriving online following. Today, Loftia has over 500,000 highly engaged followers across platforms, which is proof that players are hungry for something new.
That momentum translated into action: in late 2023, Loftia launched the most successful video game Kickstarter ever out of Australia, raising over $1.3 million from 17,000 backers two years ahead of the game’s Early Access release.
Accelerated by community (and Speedrun)
In early 2024, Qloud was selected to join the a16z Speedrun accelerator, cementing its place among the next generation of breakout gaming studios. Shortly after, Qloud raised its seed round led by GFR Fund, with co-leads BITKRAFT and participation from a16z and 1UP Ventures.
At GFR, we’ve long believed in the power of community-driven games and third spaces, especially those that resonate with Gen Z values like sustainability, self-expression, and social play. Loftia is a perfect example, and we’re thrilled to support the Qloud team as they bring their vision to life.
What’s next: the Hanging Gardens and closed Alpha expansion
Coming soon is the reveal of Loftia’s newest in-game district: The Hanging Gardens. Currently available to Alpha testers, this lush new area introduces several eagerly anticipated features:
- Fishing, available for peaceful afternoons by the water
- Community farms, an exciting new co-op farming experience!
- Research stations & contribution bins, collaborative collection systems that unlock rewards over time
Loftia is more than just a game. It’s a movement toward games as shared, joyful, and hopeful spaces, and we’re honored to be part of the journey.
Get a glimpse first in the official trailer!
