Mahad Asif (born 2009) is a Pakistani software developer and game developer. At 15 years of age, he has over five years of experience in game development and has been employed as a full-time Unity developer at Quantum Solutions (formerly USquare Solutions) since October 2023.[1]

Mahad began learning game development at age 10 using the Struckd 3D platform and created his first commercial game at age 13. He is recognized as the youngest professional developer at his company and has contributed to multiple augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) gaming projects.[2] His work spans game development, web development, user interface design, and artificial intelligence systems.

Early life and education

Mahad was born in 2009 in Pakistan. At age 9, he created his first game, a "4 Teams TDM (Team Deathmatch) Game", using the Struckd 3D platform (now owned by Unity Technologies).[3] This early project sparked his passion for game development and creating immersive virtual worlds.

Between ages 9 and 10, Mahad discovered that his school had a computer laboratory offering Unity game development courses. He convinced his parents to enroll him in the program, beginning formal training in the Unity engine and C# programming at age 10.[4]

By age 11 in 2021, Mahad had completed advanced programming coursework covering object-oriented programming, event-driven programming, delegates, asynchronous programming, generic programming, and LINQ. He began self-directed learning and experimentation, creating several independent game projects including endless runner games. During this period, he aspired to create multiplayer FPS and drifting games but lacked the resources and advanced knowledge required.[5]

Career

Early professional work

At age 13 in 2023, Mahad got bored by his daily routine and decided to pursue professional opportunities. He applied to several companies for Unity game developer positions and received a response from the team lead at USquare Solutions (later rebranded as Quantum Solutions). After successfully completing his first job interview, he was hired as a Unity game developer in October 2023, making him the youngest professional developer in the organization.[6] He relocated from his hometown to Islamabad for the position, marking a significant step in his professional career.

Notable projects

Mahad has contributed to several commercial augmented reality and virtual reality gaming applications during his tenure at Quantum Solutions:

  • Poker Hero Go - A location-based AR game where players collect poker cards in augmented reality by visiting real-world locations. Players can arrange collected cards into patterns to earn CC coins, which can be converted to cryptocurrency. The game integrates GPS technology with AR visualization.
  • Gift Go - An AR marketing platform that allows companies to place virtual gifts and coupon codes at specific geographic locations through an admin panel. Users can collect these items in augmented reality and redeem them at participating businesses, creating a new form of location-based marketing.
  • Mystical Creatures - A comprehensive AR social gaming experience similar to Pokémon Go, featuring creature collection in augmented reality. The game includes missions, quests, and treasure hunts with quiz elements, both 2D Google Maps integration and custom 3D mapping, social features including friend systems and global chat, direct messaging and group creation, and a drawing/gallery system where users can create artwork and place it on the map for others to discover.
  • Convo/Forums - A virtual reality and WebGL platform that transforms traditional forum discussions into immersive VR experiences. Users can post questions, answer others' queries, and engage in discussions within a virtual environment. The platform features artificial intelligence integration for automated responses, day/night cycles with realistic lighting, conversational NPCs, and accessibility features including text-to-speech and speech-to-text capabilities.
  • Shops - A VR/MR and WebGL multiplayer marketplace where users join a global server to explore virtual shops or create their own stores. Players can purchase products, customize their shop layouts, and manage multiple virtual storefronts within the platform.
  • Solo Shops - A personalized VR retail platform allowing individual shop owners to create intimate, one-on-one shopping experiences. Unlike the global Shops platform, this focuses on private virtual storefronts with unlimited customization possibilities.
  • Mars/Spaces - A metaverse social platform where users create personal profiles and build customizable spaces on floating islands. The platform integrates with major social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), supports user-generated content including images and videos, and features day/night cycles, teleportation systems, and comprehensive avatar customization.

Personal projects

Mahad has developed two major personal projects that demonstrate his entrepreneurial skills and technical innovation:

  • RentOut.pk - A comprehensive rental marketplace platform designed for the Pakistani market. The platform allows users to rent properties (houses, apartments, offices, wedding halls) and vehicles (cars, buses, motorcycles) on hourly, daily, monthly, or mileage-based terms. The system includes document verification for hosts and renters, price comparison tools, interactive mapping for location-based searches, host management dashboards with analytics, and integrated payment processing supporting local Pakistani payment methods. Mahad serves as founder, lead UI/UX designer, system architect, and business strategy director for the project, though the development is handled by a separate team while remaining under his conceptual and design leadership.[7]
  • OpenDev - An innovative artificial intelligence platform that utilizes multiple AI agents organized in a hierarchical structure to automate software development processes. The system employs specialized AI agents for different aspects of development including planning, coding, testing, and deployment. The platform features a streamlined process where users first collaborate with documentation agents to create detailed project specifications, followed by automated task division and distribution to specialized development teams. The AI agents work continuously (24/7) to implement projects while maintaining quality assurance standards. Users can monitor and customize agent behavior, adjust large language models, and integrate additional tools and MCPs. The platform aims to revolutionize software development by making high-quality application creation more accessible and cost-effective.[8]

Technical expertise

Mahad's technical skills span multiple domains, developed through both formal education and extensive self-directed learning:

Game development

Web development

Design and user experience

Artificial intelligence and automation

Collaboration and project management

Professional skills

  • Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, debugging, logical thinking, creative thinking, entrepreneurial mindset
  • Technical Competencies: Software architecture, critical thinking, adaptability, leadership, time management[9]

Recognition and achievements

Mahad holds the distinction of being the youngest professional developer at Quantum Solutions. His professional achievements include maintaining a 100% project delivery rate, with all assigned commercial projects completed on schedule and without critical production issues.[10]

His approach to combining artistic design with technical development has been noted within the industry, particularly his work on user interface design for the RentOut.pk platform. Despite having no formal design training and relying only on tutorials, color theory knowledge, and natural artistic sense, his first UI/UX project was noted to appear professionally designed.[11]

Mahad has contributed to advancing AR/VR development methodologies within his organization and has been recognized for introducing innovative development approaches. His work demonstrates consistent achievement of optimal performance standards, including maintaining 60+ FPS in AR/VR applications.

Professional development and interests

Beyond his primary work in game development, Mahad has diverse interests spanning multiple fields. His hobbies and areas of study include history, civilizations, empires, religions, science, physics, quantum computing, astronomy, oceanic exploration, geopolitics, podcasts, ethical hacking, and gaming. He describes working with AI as "one of my biggest hobby and passion" and finds creating AI agents to be "like magic."[12]

His development philosophy emphasizes balancing technical innovation with creative design through rapid prototyping, iterative refinement, and thorough testing to build immersive experiences with robust mechanics and polished visuals. He follows structured workflows starting with planning and prototyping, then iterating on game mechanics, UI, and core systems, ensuring optimization and thorough testing before final refinements.

Future plans

As of 2025, at age 15, Mahad is seeking new opportunities after working at his current position for two years. He has expressed interest in expanding his work in artificial intelligence and automation, particularly in the development of AI agent systems for software development. His primary interests for future roles include game development, backend development, and AI-focused positions, though he remains available for UI/UX work on a project basis.[13]

He plans to continue his education in computer science while maintaining his professional development work, with aspirations to contribute to advancing AI-driven software development methodologies and creating innovative learning platforms for developer education.

Personal information

Mahad's contact information for professional inquiries includes:

External links

References

  1. {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://usquaresolutions.com | Quantum Solutions }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: | Accessed: {{{access-date}}}. }}
  2. Quantum Solutions Internal Profile, 2024
  3. Template:Cite interview
  4. Portfolio Documentation, 2024
  5. Template:Cite document
  6. Template:Cite press release
  7. {{#if: Mahad, Asif | Mahad, Asif }} {{#if: | [{{{url}}} RentOut.pk Project Documentation] }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: | Accessed: {{{access-date}}}. }}
  8. Template:Cite documentation
  9. Template:Cite portfolio
  10. {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: | [{{{url}}} Young Talent in Pakistani Tech Industry] }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: | Accessed: {{{access-date}}}. }}
  11. Template:Cite interview
  12. Portfolio Documentation, 2024
  13. Template:Cite interview