Michael Mumbauer
CEO
San Diego, California
About Michael Mumbauer
20 years of experience across AAA game development, Hollywood production, and emerging technology. He is the founder and CEO of Liithos, an entertainment IP company focused on building generative AI-powered narrative worlds for interactive and social-first platforms.
Mumbauer spent 13 years at PlayStation's Visual Arts studio, where he served as Studio Head and helped grow the team to more than 300 developers with an annual operating budget of $40 million. During that period, he contributed to the co-development of major franchises including The Last of Us, Uncharted, God of War, and Spider-Man. He also founded PlayStation Malaysia, the company's first internal co-development operation in Southeast Asia.
Earlier in his career, Mumbauer worked on performance capture productions at Sony Pictures Imageworks, contributing to Beowulf and Monster House alongside directors Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. He holds two US patents related to performance capture and virtual camera systems.
In 2020, he co-founded That's No Moon, a AAA game studio that raised $100 million in investment from Smilegate and scaled to more than 70 developers in under six months. He founded Liithos in 2022. At Liithos, he is developing Trace War, a transmedia universe created with PlayStation creator John Garvin, and The Watch, a generative AI micro-pilot for vertical storytelling formats.
Mumbauer attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where he studied Computer Art. He grew up in Goshen, New York.
Areas of Focus
Career Background
That's No Moon
The Mill
Acclaim Entertainment
ClickRadio
Education
School of Visual Arts
Media
Press
Michael Mumbauer of California Launches "Build the Future Responsibly" Personal Pledge on Ethical AI in Creative Industries
Read the full article ›Sony is building a new dev team to work with Visual Arts and Naughty Dog on a ‘AAA’ title
Read the full article ›Awards & Recognition
- Gamescom Asia Keynote Speaker — Gamescom Asia, October 2021
- Keynote Speaker: Level Up 2018: Beyond Interactive Entertainment — Level Up KL, 2018
- Keynote Speaker — Level Up KL: The Gateway to Southeast Asia's Game Industry, November 2015
- Believable Humans — GDC, March 2015
- Climbing Out of the Uncanny Valley — Sony PlayStation Global Tech Conference, March 2010
- Cinematography in Videogames — Sony PlayStation Global Tech Conference, March 2007
Licenses & Certifications
- US Patent 20110181601 — Capturing Views and Movements of Actors Performing Within Generated Scenes, Issued July 28, 2011
- US Patent US20100253676 A1 — Simulating Performance of Virtual Camera, Issued October 7, 2010
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Michael Mumbauer do?
Michael Mumbauer is the CEO of Liithos, an entertainment IP company he founded that builds generative AI-powered narrative worlds for interactive and social-first platforms. He has 20 years of experience spanning AAA game development, Hollywood production, and emerging technology.
What is Michael Mumbauer known for?
He is known for his 13 years at PlayStation's Visual Arts studio, where he served as Studio Head and contributed to franchises including The Last of Us, Uncharted, God of War, and Spider-Man. He also holds two US patents related to performance capture and virtual camera systems, and has spoken at events like Gamescom Asia and GDC.
Where is Michael Mumbauer based?
Michael Mumbauer is based in San Diego, California.
Where did Michael Mumbauer study?
Michael Mumbauer attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where he studied Computer Art.
Who does Michael Mumbauer work for?
Michael Mumbauer works for Liithos, the entertainment IP company he founded in 2022.
Last updated April 20, 2026