The North Carolina-based game studio and technology provider, Icarus Studios is merging with the Silicon Valley-based Zabu Studios to form MFV, which will be majority owned by leading entertainment conglomerate National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA).  The merger will create a major developmental studio dedicated to combining physical merchandise with interactive technology on new platforms, and put at its disposal NECA/WizKids’ intellectual property.

 

Icarus Studios has developed several MMO, social, and mobile games since 2001 including the award-winning MMO Fallen Earths.  Zabu Studio, which was founded by Milton Soong in 2010, specializes in next-generation social and mobile games based on well known board and card games.

 

Soong, who be the CEO of MFV, sees the potential in combining NECA/WizKids’ extensive catalog of intellectual property with the new company’s digital gaming expertise: "The formation of MFV creates a very strong alliance, combining a veteran team with cutting edge technology and intellectual property licenses, MFV is ready to take gaming into new directions, focusing on physical product tie-ins, emerging technology and cross platform integration."