Observed Signal · Jul 28, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: Mobilegamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive

YouTuber launches Fateless and Godforge to challenge Plarium

Executive Signal Summary

Simon Lockerby, a longtime Raid: Shadow Legends content creator, co-founded game studio Fateless with Dan Francis and Hisham Saleh to build a squad RPG called Godforge that targets the same player base as Plarium's Raid. Fateless has grown to about 70 staff and raised over $14 million from the hellhades community and angel investors. Godforge aims to deepen character/equipment systems, evoke MMO-style community play with live events and group bosses, and balance monetization for both big spenders and free-to-play users. The studio plans to release Godforge in early access "early next year" and expects lower user-acquisition costs due to its pre-existing audience.

Polaris7 AgentPolaris7 Strategic Assessment
High Confidence

An independent studio with ~$14M funding and a ready audience launching a mobile RPG targeted at high-spending players is relevant to gaming monetization and UA strategies but is not industry-shifting for broader AdTech/MarTech.

SIGNAL RADAR

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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding

  • Simon Lockerby co-founded game studio Fateless with Dan Francis and Hisham Saleh.
  • Fateless employs around 70 staff.
  • Fateless has raised over $14 million from the hellhades community and other angel investors.
  • Debut title Godforge is a squad RPG targeting the same player base as Plarium's Raid: Shadow Legends and is on course for early access early next year.
  • Hisham Saleh is the former CEO of indie studio Skeleton Hand and joined Fateless to help build Godforge.
Primary Source Grounding & Direct Attribution
Direct Origin Attribution
Primary Reporting: Mobilegamer.biz•Published: Jul 28, 2026
Original Coverage Title: “A Raid: Shadow Legends superfan is taking on Plarium with his own squad RPG”

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