- Saudi startup Starvania Studios has raised $1.1 million in funding from Merak Capital and Impact46.
- The investment aims to strengthen the company’s production capabilities, accelerate the development of console and PC games, and attract Saudi talent to the gaming industry.
- Founded in 2022 by Meaad Aflah and Muslih Alzahrani, Starvania is best known for its game “Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree”, inspired by Arab mythology.
Starvania Studios, the award-winning independent game studio, has announced raising $1.1 million in a strategic investment round led by Merak Capital and Impact46, aimed at strengthening its presence in the gaming market and accelerating its growth.
The company plans to leverage this funding to enhance its production capabilities, develop new console and PC games, and expand the recruitment of Saudi talent in the digital gaming sector, in line with the Kingdom’s objectives to support the creative industries.
Founded in 2022 by Meaad Aflah and Muslih Alzahrani, Starvania gained attention with its standout title “Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree”, inspired by Arab mythology. The game was released on Steam in 2024 following the team’s participation in the NEOM Level Up Accelerator program.
The studio intends to use the new investment to expand its production pipeline and build immersive fantasy worlds that can be developed into spin-off products such as comics, animation, and merchandise, in addition to strengthening its operational infrastructure and advancing toward global competitiveness.
This investment comes at a time when the Saudi gaming sector is witnessing rapid growth, with more than 24 million gamers—around 67% of the population. Supported by government initiatives and private investments, the Kingdom aims to become a global hub for game development and esports by 2030.
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