Improbable nets $20M to keep developing virtual world tech

London-based startup Improbable has managed to raise $20 million from investment firm Andreesen Horowitz to fund its continuing efforts to develop better technology for creating and operating virtual worlds.

As part of the deal, Andreesen Horowitz partner Chris Dixon will take a seat on the Improbable board. But what will Improbable use all that money for, exactly?

According to the inaugural company blog post, Improbable is out to create "an operating environment that makes simulated worlds possible", "financially viable" and easy to develop for without in-depth knowledge of how Improbable tech works. 

"The worlds we want to see people build and explore won’t be possible if creating them takes decades or enormous sums of money," reads the post. The company is currently primarily concerned with building virtual game worlds, though it also predicts viable entertainment, health management and military applications.

A small number of game developers, including DayZ creator Dean Hall and Surgeon Simulator maker Bossa Studios, are known to be working with Improbable and an early version of its virtual worlds tech.