Starvania Studios, an award-winning independent game developer based in Saudi Arabia, has announced a $1.1 million strategic investment from Merak Capital and Impact46. The funding is aimed at enhancing the studio’s production capabilities and supporting its development of games for PC and home consoles.
By the Numbers
The investment comes as Saudi Arabia’s gaming market continues to show massive potential:
- $1.1 Million: The strategic investment amount raised by Starvania Studios.
- 24 Million+: The number of gamers in Saudi Arabia.
- 67%: The percentage of the Saudi population that are gamers.
- 2022: The year Starvania Studios was founded.
Fueling Development for PC and Console Games
The new investment will be instrumental in scaling Starvania’s operations. The studio plans to use the capital to boost its production capacity, continue the development of high-quality games for PC and console platforms, and attract top-tier Saudi talent to its team. This aligns with the Kingdom’s broader goal of nurturing a vibrant local game development industry.
A Studio Inspired by Arabian Mythology
Founded in 2022 by Maadh Afaleq and Muslih Al-Zahrani, Starvania Studios quickly gained recognition in the indie game scene with its title
“Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree.” The game, which is inspired by rich Arabian legends, was successfully launched on the Steam platform in 2024 after the team participated in the NEOM Level Up Accelerator program.
Investing in a Thriving National Ecosystem
This investment is part of a growing trend of private and public support for the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia. With over 24 million gamers, the Kingdom is aggressively working to establish itself as a global hub for game development, publishing, and esports by 2030. The backing of homegrown studios like Starvania is a critical component of achieving this national vision.
Source: Jawlah
