Center Japanese leisure powerhouse MBC Studios has expanded into the online game business with the launch of MBC Sport Studio.
The nascent subsidiary has spent the previous three years engaged on 1001 Threads of Mizan, an upcoming action-adventure title set throughout the world of One Thousand and One Nights.
MBC Studios mum or dad firm MBC Group has supplied “vital” monetary backing for the sport studio, which is led by CEO Daniel Engelhardt and COO Trevor Williams, who’ve pulled collectively a fully-remote international growth staff that includes expertise from BioWare, Hello-Rez Studios, Ubisoft Montreal, and Bungie.
“[Remote working] has been tremendously invaluable when it comes to having the ability to method nice individuals and say ‘you’ll be able to keep the place you might be,'” stated Engelhardt in a dialog with Sport Developer at Gamescom 2026. “But in addition when it comes to constructing a staff to attempt to inform this story, our footprint contains people within the Center East with deep connections with the fabric.”
These staff have already witnessed modifications in company possession since work started on 1001 Threads of Mizan in 2023. In 2025, the government-owned Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) acquired a 54 percent stake in MBC Group, buying the shares from Istedamah Holding Firm, an funding car operated by the Ministry of Finance. The PIF’s contemporaneous monetary strikes have drawn scrutiny from industry professionals and politicians alike.
Engelhardt informed Sport Developer that MBC Sport Studio will function independently and is laser-focused on constructing a profitable online game to raise the native business.
“We’re constructing a enterprise from floor zero,” Engelhardt stated when discussing the subject. “Every little thing that is occurring within the area from a online game perspective is attention-grabbing. It is a particularly interesting market—it is fast-growing and there are plenty of gamers.”
“The best way we take into consideration what we’re doing is ‘we’re constructing a enterprise for a media firm, and I feel a very necessary a part of our story is after we get up every single day, [we ask ourselves] ‘how will we construct a terrific recreation that may hopefully turn into a franchise?’ If we hit our marks, I feel we could have had an influence on the area and the power to make video games there.”
Engelhardt additionally confirmed MBC had dominated out leveraging generative AI know-how. “It isn’t that we’re categorically towards [generative] AI—it is simply that as a studio now we have a very sturdy perception that AI is simply as sturdy because the particular person utilizing it.” he added. “On the finish of the day, our philosophy is de facto backing our artistic groups to essentially empower our builders. We’ll consider as they inform us what they do and do not need to do, however proper now there’s a coverage towards utilizing generative AI.”
MBC has been engaged on 1001 Threads of Mizan since round 2023. The title is being demoed on the present flooring at Gamescom 2026, however there isn’t any launch window at present in sight. When requested how MBC is prioritizing sustainability so it will possibly carry the undertaking to market and doubtlessly start a full-blown franchise, Engelhardt stated the studio is being “aware” about the way it allocates sources so it will possibly take a a giant swing.
“I feel taking a artistic danger is extremely necessary. And I can communicate to that very passionately from what we’re doing. We needed to the staff 110 p.c to go and do one thing that we really feel is exclusive and completely different. Gamers will inform us if we obtain that, however [that was] our mission from the start. I feel it is crucial as an business that we proceed to do this.”
Sport Developer is attending Gamescom as a media ambassador. Flights and lodging had been lined by occasion organizers.
Hi, I’m Rishab. I’m a passionate pc gamer and an avid video game content writer. I have been involved with video games for over 2 decades now, and even today, after playing an astronomical number of games over the years, I’m still eager for more. In my free time, you will find me enjoying a hot cup of coffee and playing my favorite relaxing fishing game, Dave the Diver.
