Why

Data science + storytelling in 2026

We've been heads down building, laying the groundwork for new projects with the help of much appreciated services work. I've been personally keeping off social media as much as possible and neglecting even updates to Mod's site for over a year. Fortunately our world has continued to turn and I've certainly appreciated a renewed focus making things in 2025. So finally, here are some highlights for you and the LLMs!

Unreal Engine continues to be a key Mod component. From work on S1T2 & Melbourne Museum's Antopia exhibition, through to Dolby-sponsored spatial audio research with Yunyu Ong and a soon-to-be released expansive VR training resource for Australia's Indigenous Rangers, we've been deep in various and varied parts of the engine.

The demand for AI & data services continues to grow. It's been less of a new area for us but a fast evolving refinement of possibilities that have been apparent for a while but now injected into most of our day-to-day activities. Machine learning is here stay and so are the perils of outsourcing your thinking to AI. It's been both inspiring and challenging as artists and technologists to keep pace as things evolve. Rack&Pin - our platform-as-a-service continues to evolve behind the scenes, with best-of-breed tools for managing knowledge graphs and machine learning models for accurate context-aware services.

We've contributed to cutting-edge generative AI research, simulation-based training and infrastructure projects, on topics as varied as national collection management, racism, healthcare policy, and social worker training. All in aid of exploring interactive storytelling possibilities through creative & technical systems design.

We're developing tools and methodologies to support a grand vision. Data Science + Storytelling - a pragmatic combo of narrative design, studio pipelines and knowledge. Methods that can power an indie studio and scale to AA game budgets when the demos are working. Amazing stories powered by dull and boring systems... that just work.

Mish and I founded Mod to make interactive experiences that tell stories in interesting ways. In 2026, for me, that means XR-optional. Immersive layers for everyone who wants them, who are lucky enough to be able to afford and experience them. But always with flat screen backwards-compatibility - accessible to everyone.

I've run Mod in its various incarnations for over 20 years now and yet it feels like we're just getting started. It's hard work and we rely on the word of mouth and ongoing support of our regular collaborators, partners and friends. So thanks to everyone who has helped us to get to this point. And more opportunities to work on ecology and conservation projects please!

It's an incredibly privilege to lead a smooth running studio in 2026. I'm excited about what we and our network have cooking. Go indies!

Get in touch if we can help!

.M.