Dunedin-based games studio RocketWerkz says it is ramping up its staffing after an investment by a Chinese media and entertainment company.
The investment by Tencent, a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, would allow the studio to increase its staffing for a ``large scale project''.
It is not ready to announce details of the project, the studio said in a statement.
Over the last year, the studio had been hiring developers from other game studios such as Bethesda, Crytek, Creative Assembly and Bohemia Interactive.
A spokesman said staff numbers could increase to as many as 150, but he declined to give a timeframe.
At present the studio has 26 staff, with another six about to start.
The studio recently released the HTC Vive VR game `Out of Ammo' on Steam Early Access.
Dean Hall, originally of Oamaru, set up the studio after the success of DayZ, which sold nearly 4 million copies.
Companies Office records show that 25% of Rocketwerkz is owned by a Hong Kong-based entity.
