Saudi media conglomerate MBC expands into video game industry with new studio
Saudi media conglomerate MBC Group has entered the video game industry through the launch of MBC Game Studio, which was unveiled at Gamescom 2026. The new subsidiary, which has received significant financial backing from its parent company, represents a strategic expansion beyond the company’s core media operations.
Led by CEO Daniel Engelhardt and COO Trevor Williams, MBC Game Studio has assembled a global, fully-remote development team featuring veteran talent from acclaimed industry studios including BioWare, Hi-Rez Studios, Ubisoft Montreal, and Bungie. The team has spent the past three years developing 1001 Threads of Mizan, an action-adventure game set within the narrative world of One Thousand and One Nights.
The studio’s formation marks MBC Group’s diversification into interactive entertainment, leveraging its existing expertise in content and storytelling to create gaming experiences grounded in culturally-rich narratives.