TruePlayers lands £140k pre-seed to adapt FireHawk FPV drone simulation for training
This article covers TruePlayers, a Cornwall-based gaming startup, which has raised £140,000 in a pre-seed funding round from the British Business Bank via The FSE Group to further develop its drone simulation title FireHawk FPV and expand into PC, console and simulation training markets. The funding will support new game modes, community features, multiplayer and platform ports for FireHawk FPV and enable the studio to pursue B2B training applications.
TruePlayers, a Cornwall-based gaming startup, has raised £140,000 in a pre-seed funding round from the British Business Bank via The FSE Group to further develop its drone simulation title FireHawk FPV and expand the studio’s move into PC and console simulation and training markets. The cash injection follows earlier backing and aims to fund new game modes, community features, multiplayer and platform expansion.
Why it matters
The funding underlines how small regional studios can pivot successfully from mobile-first releases to higher-fidelity PC and console projects, while also pursuing commercial training applications. FireHawk FPV has sold more than 10,000 units, giving TruePlayers a revenue signal and practical validation as it explores B2B use cases for simulation-based training tools. Continued British Business Bank support also points to sustained public backing for regional creative tech companies.
Inside the product
FireHawk FPV is a first-person drone-flying simulator that emphasises realistic controls and flight physics. TruePlayers plans to use the new funds to add new game modes, introduce community-driven gameplay features, enable multiplayer and port the title to additional platforms. The studio is also in discussions with commercial partners about adapting FireHawk’s controls and simulation technology for training purposes, which could open non-gaming revenue streams alongside consumer sales.
Who are the investors?
The round is led by the British Business Bank and delivered through The FSE Group, a regional fund manager. This follows an initial 2022 investment from FSE and brings the total British Business Bank-backed investment into TruePlayers to £365,000 via the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund.
In the announcement, Matt Browning, Investor at The FSE Group, said:
TruePlayers has shown real resilience and creativity in evolving their strategy and delivering a commercially successful title in FireHawk. The team has demonstrated technical capability and clear market understanding, proving a strong demand for what they’re building. Their early traction in the new commercial avenues highlights the wider potential of their technology. We’re pleased to continue supporting the team as they take this next step.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Adrian Ruiz Langan, Co-founder & CEO at TruePlayers, said:
We’re incredibly proud of what our small team has achieved over the past two years. FireHawk FPV has demonstrated clear commercial potential and opened doors to major new markets. This follow-on support from FSE enables us to accelerate development, expand our team with essential expertise, and pursue both gaming and B2B opportunities with confidence. We’re excited for the next phase of growth.
The comment reiterates the studio’s dual focus on improving the consumer product while pursuing enterprise applications for simulation controls and training.
The bigger picture
TruePlayers’ raise reflects two broader trends: growing interest in simulation as both entertainment and training, and continued public-backed capital flowing to regional creative tech companies. For gaming studios outside major hubs, modest pre-seed rounds paired with follow-on funds can finance product pivots and platform launches that validate routes into B2B markets.
This deal also highlights the role of funds supported by the British Business Bank in seeding UK creative and tech startups, helping bridge early commercial traction and the next stage of product development across the UK and Europe.
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