A San Francisco game developer raised $12 million to create mobile sports games such as the quick-to-play NFL Clash. Nifty Games secured official licensing by the NFL and the Players Association. Expected to launch later this year, the game is already undergoing fan tests.
Game vets Jon Middleton and Pete Wanat launched Nifty to make head-to-head sports games. In addition to NFL Clash, the company partnered with the NBA and its players association to develop a basketball game.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Middleton said NFL Clash offers a way to play a game in just five minutes and with its mobile-first design, can be played anywhere. Few plays. Few rules.
“NFL Clash will seek the widest possible audience for football,” Middleton said.
Compared to the popular NFL Madden games, mobile-only sports games tend to be casual mini-games or simulations.
“But when it comes to mobile free to play, the NFL was looking for a game that is a more casual experience, but still has all the authenticity that an NFL game can bring to bear,” Wanat said.
Rachel Hoagland, vice president, head of gaming and esports for the NFL, said the league is looking to bolster its offering on mobile devices and is thrilled that Nifty Games will deliver.
Gregory Milken, managing director of March Capital Partners, one of the funding firms, said Nifty has an opportunity to deliver high-quality, fresh experiences with mobile sports games.
“We’re going to make the best types of sports games possible,” Wanat said. “The DNA of Nifty is to know free-to-play games and to be passionate about sports.”
