Big Fish Games Raises $83.3 Million For Casual Game Distribution

Big Fish Games, an online portal for both online and downloadable computer games, has closed an $83.3 million funding round led by Balderton Capital, General Catalyst Partners, and Salmon River Capital.

Big Fish Games was originally founded in 2002 as a game development studio, but gradually expanded its focus as it began distributing games created by other developers. The site now has partnerships with over 500 developers and says that their games see over one million daily downloads. The site also features a collection of online browser-based games as well as a basic social network.

The company says that it will use the money to promote global expansion. It will likely focus on its distribution platform for third party developers, as storefronts like Xbox Live have shown that gamers are becoming increasingly willing to play games developed by small-time studios.