The indie gaming world has a new player, and it’s bringing serious pedigree to the table. A team of developers behind some of the biggest franchises in gaming history is stepping out on its own with a mystery set in a vanished piece of American history.
Veil of the White City exterior scene
Fire Engine scene of City of the White Veil
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A new independent U.S. studio, founded by veterans of God of War, Halo, and Assassin’s Creed, is set to unveil its debut project, Veil of the White City©, at MDEV in Wisconsin from November 6–7.
MDEV has become a central hub for the games business in the US. It gives studios like Denestar a platform and a community. We’re where this game can be experienced by players for the first time.— Ben Kvalo, Executive Chair of MDEV
ALEXANDRIA, VA, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * * *
Denestar Studios officially launches today, bringing with it a playable demo of Veil of the White City for attendees of the MDEV event, a gathering that has become the Midwest’s premier games industry showcase.
The announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for a team whose collective résumé reads like a who’s who of blockbuster gaming. Denestar Studios, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is making its public debut with a first-person adventure that transports players to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The demo, which will be available to play at the event in Madison, Wisconsin, represents just the first slice of a project that has full production planned for the future.
The studio’s philosophy is rooted in a return to form: creating premium, single-player experiences that emphasize meticulous craft and narrative depth. Instead of chasing trends, the founding team is applying the discipline honed on massive projects to build its own original intellectual property. The developer credits among the team are extensive, including work on Assassin’s Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Shadow, Bioshock: Infinite, Call of Duty: Ghosts, DC Universe Online, Ghosts of Tsushima, God of War, Halo 4, Halo Infinite, Pokémon GO, Resident Evil 5, Star Trek Legacy, Star Wars Galaxies, and Tron: Evolution.
“We built Denestar to make the kind of finite, authored games that got us into this industry in the first place,” says Tim Messman, Founder of Denestar Studios. “Launching a demo, instead of just a pitch, matters. We want people to see and play what we’re building, not just hear about it.”
The game’s setting is a character in itself. “Most of what exists from the 1893 World’s Fair is black and white, so we tirelessly dug through countless records and databases to bring it back in full,” offers Rick Knox, Lead Artist at Denestar Studios. “Players aren’t just visiting history. They’re exploring a real place that no longer exists, and every corner of it might hold a clue.”
Denestar will be present at MDEV, which is organized by the Wisconsin Games Alliance at the Alliant Energy Center. Founder Tim Messman and Community Manager Jake Bradley will be on the floor to demonstrate the game and engage with press, potential partners, and the gaming public.
“MDEV has become a gravity center for the games industry in the middle of the US,” said Ben Kvalo, President of the Wisconsin Games Alliance and Executive Chair of MDEV. “MDEV exists to bring together the games industry and give studios like Denestar a stage and a community from day one. We’re glad to be the place where they can put this game in front of players for the first time.”
The narrative hook is a classic murder mystery with a supernatural twist. A man is mysteriously killed in the Mines Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Players step into the shoes of the only investigator capable of unraveling the crime, wielding a broken, dangerous, and wild form of magic to see how it was done.
What’s Next
• Now: Playable demo debuts at MDEV, November 6–7 in Madison, showing the world, the craft, and the investigation loop in action.
• Next: A vertical slice targeted for 2027, expanding the Expo, the mystery, and the systems introduced in the demo.
• Then: Full production toward a complete release, with the studio scaling deliberately from its current core team as each phase is funded.
To support this launch, Denestar Studios has gone live with its new web site at www.denestar.com. The site will act as the central hub for development updates, news, and press and partnership inquiries. The studio is also establishing a presence across social platforms, including Instagram, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.
About Denestar Studios
Denestar Studios is an independent game studio, based in Alexandria, Virginia, building original, story-driven worlds. Its debut title, Veil of the White City©, is a first-person adventure mystery set at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, with a playable demo debuting at MDEV, November 6–7, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin.
About MDEV
MDEV is the Midwest’s largest games industry event. With attendance growing over 500% since 2022, it continues to serve as a hub for indie and AAA developers, industry professionals, students, and casual gamers.
This event features two full days of expert-led panels, speakers, workshops, and networking alongside the opportunity for developers to showcase their games. Tickets are available at www.mdevconf.com.
For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or more information, please contact: contact@wisconsingamesalliance.com
Media Contact
For more info on the game or company, contact Jake Bradley, Community Manager at Denestar Studios: jake.bradley@denestar.com
Jake Bradley
Denestar Studios
+1 774-285-0328
jake.bradley@denestar.com
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Bluesky
Instagram
TikTok
X
Why it matters: The launch of Denestar Studios signals a shift in the industry, where veteran developers are leveraging their experience to create original, narrative-driven IP outside the constraints of major publishers. The success of a title like Veil of the White City could validate a model where a small, senior team can deliver a premium single-player experience that resonates with audiences seeking deep, authored stories.
