Ultra Secures $12M Funding—CEO Gus’s Plan to Outflank Steam Revealed in Explosive Interview

Game distribution upstart Ultra just landed $12 million in fresh capital—and their CEO isn’t holding back. In an exclusive sit-down, Gus unveiled a strategy so aggressive it could make Valve sweat.

Here’s the playbook: slash developer fees, lure indies with Web3 incentives, and turn the storefront into a crypto-powered discovery engine. No more 30% Steam tax—just tighter margins and pissed-off shareholders (but hey, that’s venture math for you).

The kicker? Ultra’s betting big on blockchain integration where Steam treads lightly. Think NFT skins with actual utility, not just JPEGs for hedge fund managers to flip.

One thing’s clear: Gus didn’t raise $12M to play nice. This is a direct assault on gaming’s old guard—and the first shot just fired.

Ultra: $12 Million and a Bold Plan to Outdate Steam

In the face of the stagnation of PC gaming distribution, Ultra steps onto the scene with $12 million in pocket. Its new CEO, Gus van Rijckevorsel, wants more than a revolution: he wants to redefine the industry.

Ultra is a raw gem. The future of gaming is on the blockchain.

Amid the torpor of aging platforms like Steam, Ultra emerges with a plan as bold as it is radical. Thanks to a $12 million fundraising round led by Noah Capital, the startup is relaunching with a clear goal: to become a true OS of gaming, going far beyond the role of a simple game distributor.

A Strategic Bridge to Change Everything

The fundraising is much more than a simple liquidity injection: it is the fuel for a total repositioning. Strategic hires, opening of Ultra EVM to support Ethereum compatibility, aggressive marketing campaign… Everything is in place for the transformation.

We’re not here for Steam’s crumbs. Our business model? Eat Steam alive.

Ultra is already preparing a second funding round, this time on a “unicorn” scale, betting on very high-level strategic partnerships, both technological and financial.

Gus, the Scalemaker in Charge

The new captain in charge, Gus van Rijckevorsel, is neither a developer nor a longtime gamer. He is a scale-up specialist who left strategy consulting to dive into the gaming world with a fixed idea: to change the rules.

I’m not here to run a small business. I’m here to scale a company that can reinvent an entire industry.

With his bold honesty and ultra-structured business methodology, Gus wants to turn this R&D gem into an operational war machine. And he does not hide his target: Steam, described as the “platform from the 2000s stuck in its monopoly“.

Ultra: A Gaming OS Designed for 2025

Ultra does not just sell games. The platform wants to be a complete ecosystem designed for three targets: gamers, viewers, and content creators. In short: an interactive hub where you can play, stream, create, monetize — all within the same environment.

Gamers don’t care about Web2 or Web3. They just want a seamless experience.

Imagine a gaming OS where Twitch, Discord, mods, tournaments, skins, and tutorial videos would be natively interconnected. This is precisely Ultra’s ambition: to make the user experience a coherent and modular whole, like a smartphone for gaming.

The Ultra Blockchain: Fast, Smooth, Specialized

Technically, Ultra EVM marks a turning point. The platform becomes compatible with the Ethereum ecosystem while maintaining its own ultra-efficient blockchain optimized for gaming.

The $UOS token plays a central role: transaction currency, gas fees, but also a multi-channel utility token within the Ultra ecosystem. The goal? To make it “the euro of gaming“, a universal currency for a sector with its own dynamics.

Steam in the Crosshairs: “change the game“

Facing Steam, Gus does not want to copy — he wants to “kill the game“. To him, the game distribution industry is stuck in the past: closed, opaque, and centered on monopolistic logic.

Ultra aims to do the opposite: open data to studios, create a true secondary market, offer powerful monetization tools to creators, and encourage more balanced governance between players and developers.

Netflix changed how we consume series. Ultra will change how we consume games.

Community at the Core, Ashes of Mankind as a Showcase

Ultra also counts on the strength of its community. Through its weekly X Spaces, Discord live streams, and the “Ultra Reload” operation, the platform wants to create a direct and sincere connection with its early believers. For Gus, the community is “the family“, the emotional CORE of the project.

Meanwhile, the game Ashes of Mankind serves as a AAA demonstrator. This ambitious FPS, developed in-house, will be the first showcase of the Ultra ecosystem’s potential. It will integrate both Web2 and Web3 features, proving that unifying worlds is possible without friction.

And Now?

Ultra is still at the beginning of its second wind. But with its OS vision, sharp blockchain technology, and sharp discourse in an overly polished market, the startup wants to embody the radical alternative that studios and gamers are waiting for.

Next appointment: the announcement of the “techno and financial” strategic partnership in the coming weeks. With $12 million in hand, an imminent AAA game, and a radical gaming vision, Ultra steps onto the scene to transform the industry and become the Netflix of gaming. Follow their launcher, join the community, and get ready: the next video game revolution may not come from Steam… but from Ultra.

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