UK-based startup PlaySafe ID, which issues verified digital identities to stop cheaters, bots, and online predators from ruining games, has raised a €1 million ($1.12M) pre-seed round. The investment was led by Early Game Ventures, with participation from Hartmann Capital and Overwolf.
- Founded by Andrew Wailes, PlaySafe ID offers a privacy-first platform that verifies gamers are real people and haven’t been flagged for cheating or harmful behavior, all while preserving anonymity and user freedom.
"PlaySafe ID rebuilds trust in online games — and beyond. In a world where AI and anonymity erode safety and fairness, PlaySafe restores balance through identity, transparency, and responsibility," said Cristian Munteanu, Managing Partner at Early Game Ventures.
- PlaySafe ID issues a single, anonymous, game-agnostic digital ID that connects across games and platforms. Players can only have one ID, verified via UK-based partner Onfido using zero-knowledge proof, meaning the company never sees or stores users’ documents or biometrics.
- When a player logs into a supported game, the game pings PlaySafe ID’s API to check whether the user is verified and eligible. Developers can also report violations like cheating or child exploitation; PlaySafe ID’s backend evaluates these claims and can issue bans that apply universally across platforms, solving a core flaw in today’s fragmented accountability systems.
"Gaming should be fun. It should be a place that we can all enjoy. My team and I are doing our best to bring the missing element to ensure that gaming is protected," Wailes commented.
- The startup, which began as a passion project in early 2023, now has a team of seven with experience from Google and Jagex. It’s currently in integration talks with several major game platforms, with first partnerships expected to launch later this year.
- The funding will accelerate growth and enable key integrations with gaming platforms — several are already in discussion, with initial partnerships set to roll out later this year. Also, the startup is preparing for a significant go-to-market push, aiming to surpass 250,000 users in the coming months.
