• Saudi’s Starvania Studio secured USD 1.1M investment from Merak Capital and Impact46 to fuel game development ambitions.
• Founded in 2022, the studio gained recognition with Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree, inspired by Arabian mythology.
• Funding will support console and PC game development, operational scaling, and attracting top Saudi talent for global competitiveness.

Starvania Studio

What happened? Saudi game development studio, Starvania Studio, secured investment of USD 1.1 million from Merak Capital and Impact46. 

Who are they? Founded in 2022 by Meaad Aflah and Muslih Alzahrani, Saudi-based Starvania Studios is an indie game development studio. Its breakout moment was the release of Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree, a richly imagined fantasy game inspired by Arabian mythology.

Its mission is to deliver rich imagined fantasy universes aiming to resonate with players and spark imagination across cultures. While it largely draws from regional heritage, it aims to also go beyond Arabian themes. Furthermore, it focuses on building original IPs with the potential to grow beyond games into comics, animation, merchandise, and other entertainment mediums.

Gaming

What is next? With the newly acquired funding, Starvania Studios aims to accelerate its growth trajectory. It aims to develop high-quality, immersive console and PC games that reflect the studio’s broader creative vision. Additionally, it aims to support the studio’s operational infrastructure and production pipelines, allowing it to scale more efficiently and sustainably. 

Furthermore, it also seeks to attract and retain top-tier talent from Saudi Arabia’s gaming ecosystem. This is to support its goal of nurturing local expertise while fostering global competitiveness.

“Our goal has always been to tell stories that feel both epic and deeply personal, experiences that explore unseen worlds and inspiring concepts. With the backing of Merak Capital and Impact46, we now have the resources to expand our development pipeline, grow our team, and push creative boundaries,”said Meaad Aflah, CEO and Co-founder of Starvania Studios.