MBC Group launches AAA game studio with fully remote team of BioWare, Bungie, Ubisoft veterans
Summary
MBC Group launched MBC Game Studio at Gamescom 2026, shifting from passive gaming investor to active AAA developer
The studio has run fully remote since 2023, hiring veterans from BioWare, Hi-Rez, Ubisoft Montreal, and Bungie without relocation
PIF acquired a 54% stake in MBC Group in 2025, adding sovereign-fund weight to the studio's parent
"Gaming provides an opportunity to develop original IP, enter new markets, reach global audiences and create new avenues for long-term growth"
01
Remote-first model unlocks Western AAA talent without relocation
MBC Game Studio spent three years in stealth before its Gamescom reveal, a slow-build rather than acquisition entry
Fully remote structure let leadership hire BioWare, Bungie, Hi-Rez, and Ubisoft Montreal alumni without relocation demands
"[Remote working] has been tremendously valuable in terms of being able to approach great people and say 'you can stay where you are'"
The team also includes Middle East-based developers with direct ties to the source material
02
PIF ownership adds geopolitical weight to a "creative" venture
MBC Group provided "significant" undisclosed backing, positioning this as a long-horizon bet, not an MVP launch
Saudi Arabia's PIF acquired a 54% stake in MBC Group in 2025 from the Ministry of Finance's investment vehicle
PIF's expanding gaming portfolio has drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and industry professionals
Engelhardt framed the studio as independent, "building a business from ground zero" for a media parent - not a sovereign vehicle
03
Debut IP targets franchise scale rooted in regional storytelling
Debut title 1001 Threads of Mizan is an action-adventure set in a One Thousand and One Nights-inspired world
Built for three-player drop-in co-op with ground and aerial traversal, including a flying carpet system
No release window disclosed; studio described as "mindful" on resource allocation for a long dev cycle
"How do we build a great game that can hopefully become a franchise? If we hit our marks, I think we will have had an impact on the region"
04
Studio-level policy bans generative AI as creative differentiator
MBC Game Studio has enacted an explicit policy against generative AI use in production
"As a studio we have a really strong belief that AI is only as strong as the person using it"
The stance backs human-authored creative risk as justification for franchise-scale investment
What this means
For Publishers & Developers: Remote-first structure is now a viable competitive tool to poach AAA talent locked into geography-based studios.
For Investors & VC: PIF's indirect exposure via MBC adds a new vector to Saudi gaming diligence beyond direct PIF-portfolio bets like Savvy and EA.
For Service Vendors: MBC's no-genAI policy signals a growing buyer segment prioritizing human-authored pipelines - tooling and outsourcing pitches should adjust.
Events
Companies
Games
Locations
Middle East & North Africa
COMPILED BY GAMES ATLAS EDITORIAL
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