South Korean game developer Kakao Games Corp. said Wednesday it has invested $20 million in US-based independent game developer Frost Giant Studios in line with its efforts to increase its global profile.

The game affiliate under Kakao Corp., which operates South Korea's most-used mobile messenger KakaoTalk, said it made the investment through its European corporate, Kakao Games Europe B.V.

The investment is part of $25 million in a Series A funding round participated in by other investors, such as Bitkraft Ventures, Global Founders Capital and Riot Games.

Frost Giant Studios, founded in 2020 by industry leaders Tim Morten and Tim Campbell, is currently developing its first real-time strategy (RTS) game, which is expected to be released later this year.

"Frost Giant Studio has already proven that it has strong development capabilities (as its developers have created) beloved RTS hits in the global market in the past," Kakao Games CEO Cho Kye-hyun said in a press release, adding the company looks forward to actively working together to showcase good creations through a close partnership.

Morten previously worked as a production director for Blizzard Entertainment's "StarCraft 2" and Campbell worked as a lead campaign designer for "Warcraft 3." (Yonhap)