Square Enix Invests in BetaDwarf to Support Development of Vaultbreakers

Lumiri, a champion from Vaultbreakers on the left and Tifa from Final Fantasy on the Right (Credit: BetaDwarf/Square Enix)

Square Enix has officially invested in Danish indie studio BetaDwarf to help bring its upcoming action RPG, Vaultbreakers, to life.

Originally announced in January 2025, Vaultbreakers is shaping up to be a Diablo-style ARPG packed with co-op gameplay, both PvE and PvPvE modes, and a vibrant fantasy world.

While there’s still no confirmed launch date, playtests are run until July 9.

Square Enix’s general manager of business development, Hideaki Uehara, said the company was genuinely impressed by the game’s sense of community and world-building. “When I played Vaultbreakers, I was genuinely excited by the experience of connecting with other players and exploring its rich game world,” he shared in a press release.

BetaDwarf, founded in 2012, has already built a solid name for itself with previous titles like Forced and Minion Masters. CEO Steffen Kabbelgaard spoke openly about what this support means, noting that over 50,000 players have already participated in tests for Vaultbreakers, helping shape the game in real-time. “We’re already deep into production, and getting this kind of support really gives us the final push we need,” he said.

The investment is also part of Square Enix’s evolving Western publishing strategy. After selling off major western studios like Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal in 2022, the Japanese publisher has turned toward smaller studios, backing successful titles like PowerWash Simulator and Life is Strange: Double Exposure.

Most recently, Square Enix announced it would publish Killer Inn, a new multiplayer game from Canadian studio Tactic Studios, continuing its interest in western-developed online games.

Now with Vaultbreakers on the way, it seems the publisher is betting big on fresh ideas—and fresh teams—to lead the next wave.

You can watch the Vaultbreakers official gameplay trailer below:

Vaultbreakers official gameplay trailer (via YouTube)