Creating a video game studio: A deep dive into Valentin Le Quinio’s journey
Incubated at MBS Entrepreneurship Center, Valentin Le Quinio took a bold gamble. After graduating from the MBS Grande École Programme in 2023, he turned down a permanent contract to embark on an ambitious adventure: the creation of his own video game studio, Régalis Studio, specialising in grand strategy. A year and a half later, he unveils Crown of Hispania, his first game in the genre. This Monday 24 February marks a new stage for the entrepreneur, with the launch of his crowdfunding campaign.
Turning passion into an entrepreneurial drive
“From a very early age, my parents introduced me to grand strategy games, aware of their educational value. These games helped me to develop essential skills such as strategic thinking, decision-making and management. Discovering titles like Pharaoh and Europa Universalis not only gave me a taste for strategy, but also enriched my general knowledge,” says Valentin. Throughout his academic journey— from Bac S to an ECS preparatory course, then on to the MBS Grande Ecole programme— he successfully balanced studies and passion, each fuelling the other.
In 2022, an idea took shape: designing his own games and bringing a fresh dynamic to the world of grand strategy.
Crown of Hispania : un projet ambitieux et une alternative attendue
“Today, the grand strategy game market is largely dominated by Swedish studio Paradox Interactive, whose business model is based on regular updates and expensive additional content. Many gamers are eager to see new alternatives emerge, offering a more accessible and innovative approach. It was when I saw this expectation that I said to myself: why not take the plunge?” explains Valentin.
In November 2023, he founded Régalis Studio and began development of Crown of Hispania, a game that immerses players in 11th-century Iberia during the Reconquista. With a sandbox-style gameplay, players can build their kingdom, manage resources and write their own history. To bring his project to life, Valentin joined MBS Entrepreneurship Center and assembled his team: a programmer, a technical director and an art director, complemented by freelance illustrators.
From idea to execution: challenges and ambition
Starting an entrepreneurial journey is filled with challenges, and Valentin quickly experienced this reality. Access to finance is a major obstacle: bank loans are hard to come by and grants are limited. Facing these constraints, he invested his personal savings to kick-start the game’s development.
In 2024, he joined several incubators to structure his project: MBS Entrepreneurship Center, Bic Innov’up in Nîmes, and the 4th cohort of Montpellier Game Lab, a renowned programme in Occitanie for video game creators. This support enabled him to secure a grant from BPI and continue his development.
“Today, our game design is about 80% complete. One of our top priorities is now finding a publisher. The crowdfunding campaign is a crucial step, it will finance the final prototype, scheduled for late 2025,” Valentin explains.
But Régalis Studio’s ambitions do not stop at commercial success alone. Valentin aims to integrate sustainability into his business by designing energy-efficient games, using tools like Jyros to assess their environmental impact. He also envisions building a team where well-being and creativity are at the heart of the company’s culture.
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