Klang
Founded 2013 · 106 employees on LinkedIn · 9 known investors
Berlin-based game studio Klang Games is building SEED, a large-scale always-on society simulation MMO.
Also known as Klang · Klang Games · Klang Games GmbH
Founders & leadership
Klang was founded in 2013 by Ívar Emilsson.
Investors · 9
Also in the syndicate · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Klang (Klang Games GmbH) is an entertainment and game development studio based in Berlin. Its principal project is SEED, described by the company as a large-scale "Society Simulator" and massive always-on virtual world in which players inhabit simulated lives and their actions persist and affect the world. The studio frames SEED as an exploration of the future of humanity, aiming to combine elements of reality with an open-ended virtual playground.
Beyond SEED, Klang has previously released the game ReRunners and produces The Life Cycle, a podcast series conceived by the studio in which interviews with experts cover topics such as simulation theory, genetics, brain emulation, space travel and futurism. Season one interviews were recorded during 2019 in Berlin, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Dublin; a second season was completed by mid-2023. The studio also runs a YouTube channel ("Klang TV") and states the company's name was taken from a sound in Donald Duck cartoons.
Founding story
The company was started roughly a decade before 2023 by three Icelandic founders who shared an ambition to build a large-scale MMO unlike anything previously made. The name Klang was suggested by co-founder Mundi Vondi's grandfather, after a sound used in Donald Duck cartoons. Co-founder and CCO Ívar Emilsson has focused on virtual worlds and economies since 2013, applying that work to SEED; he and CTO Oddur Snær Magnússon both have backgrounds tied to CCP's EVE Online.
Traction
By July 2023 the studio had grown to almost 90 employees, had shipped ReRunners, completed two seasons of The Life Cycle podcast, and was running playtests for SEED while continuing to hire.
Latest developments
In July 2023 Klang marked its 10-year anniversary, announced a move to a larger office and reported the completion of the second season of The Life Cycle podcast, with SEED still in development.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
An independent Berlin studio operating in the massively multiplayer online and simulation game segment, with a team of nearly 90 people as of 2023.
Technology
The studio builds persistent, always-on large-scale virtual worlds. Its CTO oversees back-end scalability and the client software used to access Klang's game services.
Go-to-market
Players of online multiplayer and simulation games, alongside a community of playtesters and former ReRunners players who provide feedback on SEED; the podcast targets audiences interested in futurism and technology.
Geography
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with Icelandic founders; podcast production has involved interviews conducted in Berlin, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Dublin.
History
Klang was founded in 2013 by three Icelanders who wanted to change how people play games online; the studio marked its 10-year anniversary in July 2023. Early work took place in a small rented room, where the mobile/online title ReRunners was created. Over the following decade the company raised three rounds of funding, grew to almost 90 employees and moved into a new office in 2023, while continuing development of its simulation MMO SEED.
Compiled by commissioned research from 10 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsKlang published a post celebrating ten years since its founding, noting it had grown to almost 90 employees, had raised three rounds of funding, had created ReRunners, had recently moved to a new office, and had completed a second season of The Life Cycle podcast.
The studio announced a $41 million Series C round co-led by Animoca Brands and Kingsway Capital, with participation from Anthos, Novator, Supercell, Roosh Ventures, Angelhub and NLV, to fund continued development of SEED and team growth.
$41M source ↗
Klang produced the first season of The Life Cycle, a podcast series with interviews recorded during 2019 in Berlin, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Dublin, covering simulation theory, genetics and brain emulation.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 10
primary sources listed
- Klangklang-games.com · web
- New Funding For Seed | Klang Gamesklang-games.com · web
10 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Klang do?
- Berlin-based game studio Klang Games is building SEED, a large-scale always-on society simulation MMO.
- Who founded Klang?
- Klang was founded by Ívar Emilsson in 2013.
- Who are Klang's investors?
- Klang's investors include Bitkraft Esports Ventures, Makers Fund, Mosaic Ventures, New Life Ventures, Northzone, Roosh Ventures, Animoca Brands.