Arabian Astronomy is Powering Mezan Studios' Global Gaming Ambitions from Qatar
For decades, many of the world's most successful video games have drawn inspiration from mythology, history and folklore. Yet relatively few have explored the stories, culture and heritage of the Middle East through the eyes of creators from the region itself.
That is exactly what Mezan Studios is working to change.
Founded in Qatar in 2021, Mezan Studios develops games inspired by the history, culture and storytelling traditions of the Middle East for global audiences. Its debut title, Nightscape, draws on ancient Arabian astronomy to create an adventure that introduces players to a rich cultural heritage through interactive storytelling.
The Story Behind Nightscape
The idea for Nightscape began in 2015, when founder and creative director H. Ali became fascinated by the stories of the stars during conversations with his grandfather in the desert.
That fascination eventually evolved into a game centered on ancient Arabian astronomy. Players follow a young girl on a journey to discover why the stars are disappearing from the sky, encountering constellations and exploring a world where humanity has lost access to one of its oldest shared resources.
The game is built around a question: what would happen if humanity suddenly lost access to the stars? Stars are a universal resource accessible to everyone, regardless of geography. By exploring how civilizations have historically relied on them for navigation, science, medicine and timekeeping, Nightscape transforms regional heritage into an interactive gaming experience.
"Growing up, I realized there were very few games that represented our region authentically," said H. Ali, Founder and creative director of Mezan Studios. "We want to create games inspired by our own stories and culture while building experiences that players everywhere could enjoy."
Development accelerated during the COVID-19 period, leading to the establishment of Mezan Studios in 2021. Since then, the team has focused on bringing Nightscape to life while building a studio capable of creating future titles inspired by the Middle East.
Why Qatar
For Mezan Studios, Qatar offered the right environment to build a company whose long-term vision extends beyond a single game.
Every future project is intended to draw inspiration from the region's history, culture and experiences. Establishing the company in Qatar allows the team to remain close to those stories while contributing to the country's growing gaming ecosystem.
"We want to tell stories that genuinely represent the Middle East because they come from people who understand the region," said H. Ali. "Our ambition is to build games that are authentic while resonating with players around the world."
Growing with Media City Qatar
Mezan Studios joined Media City Qatar in 2025 while Nightscape was still in development.
Prior to joining, the studio had already received early industry support, including funding and marketing opportunities. However, as an independent developer, securing publishing partnerships remained a challenge, with many international publishers unfamiliar with the region’s gaming market. Without an established partner, reaching players and building visibility in an increasingly competitive industry remained one of the studio's biggest challenges.
Since becoming part of Media City Qatar's ecosystem, the studio has benefited from production incentives, milestone-based funding and new opportunities to engage with global industry leaders. This support has quickly translated into tangible opportunities.
"One thing we learned throughout this journey is the value of engaging with Media City Qatar early," he added. "Having a prototype or proof of concept helps demonstrate what you're building and makes it easier to have meaningful conversations about how to move the project forward."
Through Media City Qatar's wider network, Invest Qatar invited Mezan Studios to participate in Gamescom in Germany as part of the Qatari exhibitors, giving the team valuable exposure at one of the world's largest gaming industry events. The studio also secured an agreement with Sony to develop Nightscape for PlayStation 5, further building momentum ahead of release.
"The opportunities we've received through Media City Qatar have helped increase our visibility within the industry," said H. Ali. "Being part of the ecosystem has connected us with partners and opportunities that would have been difficult to access independently."
The studio has also participated in Microsoft-led discussions on artificial intelligence in game development, an opportunity facilitated through Media City Qatar that enabled the team to explore new technologies to streamline parts of the development process while strengthening its network with industry partners.
Looking Ahead
Nightscape is currently in its final stages of development and is expected to launch on PC, PlayStation and Xbox in the coming months.
For Mezan Studios, the release marks the beginning rather than the destination.
The studio's long-term ambition is to develop multiple games inspired by the stories, culture and heritage of the Middle East, creating globally relevant gaming experiences rooted in the region.
As Qatar's gaming industry continues to grow, Mezan Studios is helping demonstrate how local stories can find audiences around the world.
