Mad Catz, best known for developing and marketing console peripherals, will be entering the world of software development with the formation of their first development studio. The new Mad Catz-owned studio will be called ThunderHawk Studios.

ThunderHawk Studios will have its work cut out, as the new developer will be starting work on a massive multiplayer air combat game. The decision to work on a flight sim title is a natural for Mad Catz, as the company is the leading producer of flight simulation hardware products.

Mad Catz’s move into software development is a logical extension of the success that the company has enjoyed selling console hardware. The first title from ThunderHawk is expected to arrive in late 2012; and sources tell us that we should hear more specifics on the first title next week at E3.