Esports Nations Cup
Tag: MENA
New Partnerships
Abu Dhabi's FSRA and GCGRA to strengthen regulatory cooperation
Going Global
Maliyo Games unveils first-ever Games from Nigeria pavilion at Gamescom 2026
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Mena Media
IPNation and Influence Media launch MENA music and entertainment platform targeting $100m investment
Acquired IP could be developed across gaming, film, live shows, merchandise, licensing and AI
Developer Learning
Tamatem CEO: “Never build something that you cannot launch in two to three months”
Hammo shares lessons from a failed gaming venture and why developers should think like company founders
Developer Learning
"Your first title's purpose is to fail" says Khosouf Studio CEO Ahmad Al-Natsheh
Al-Natsheh shares why developers should focus on finishing their first game rather than waiting for publishers or investors
Investment News
Copa Fantasy finalising $750,000 seed round to accelerate growth
The company will add new leagues and introduce a Trivia game as part of its expansion
Investment News
Saudi studio Majestic Mind Games raises $1.45m
Studio developing PC games and will expand select titles to other platforms including mobile
Done Deal
EA’s $55bn buyout complete in deal led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF
A consortium of PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners has taken EA private
Acqusitions
EA expects acquisition by PIF-led consortium to close on August 4th
All regulatory approvals for the merger have now been obtained
Expanded Support
Chroma Pixel Games expands support for SADC game studios
The company is planning a SADC-wide matchmaking initiative for studios, publishers and investors
New Partnerships
Esports Foundation partners with adidas for Esports Nations Cup
More than 2,000 athletes and coaches will receive bespoke competition apparel
Funding For Games
Drilo Ventures launches $30m fund for Turkey's next generation of mobile game founders
The fund will invest $500,000 to $1.5m in early-stage studios
Marvellous Mena
ForgeMasters' Blitz of Battle aims to rethink mobile MOBAs through speed and community-led development
"The challenge for every publisher, anywhere, is providing an engaging experience for players...That's the core of what games should do," said Sanam Games publishing director Bassam.
Esports World Cup
Esports World Cup to bring free gaming festival to Paris' Champs-Élysées
The event aims to introduce esports to new audiences while celebrating gaming culture in France
Ea Acquisition
European Commission approves PIF's acquisition of Electronic Arts
The Commission found the deal does not raise competition concerns
Funding News
Ash Games Studio secures $1.5m seed funding for Saudi-inspired games
The studio is building games inspired by Saudi stories and history
Funding News
Saudi-based mobile games studio Floaty raises $1m investment round
The studio is currently developing two mobile titles
Global Game Jam
Global Game Jam's Maria Burns Ortiz: "We compare our first drafts to other people's finished products"
Global Game Jam's Maria Burns Ortiz on why Micro Missions is giving emerging developers their first step into the games industry.
Ea Acquisition
Saudi PIF-led $55bn Electronic Arts deal set for EU approval
The European Commission is expected to approve the deal under both subsidy and merger rules
Job News
Nodwin Gaming appoints Teemu Koski as CEO of MENA business
He will lead strategy, operations, business development and expansion across MENA
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group partners with King Salman Science Oasis to expand games education
The partnership focuses on education, innovation and game development
Marvellous Mena
The race to 2030: How MENA governments turned games into a national ambition
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Morocco all have 2030 gaming visions, but ambitions and plans are not the same thing
Marvellous Mena
Dubai doubles down on public-private partnerships to drive gaming ambitions
Crown Prince Hamdan says the future of gaming depends on government and industry collaboration
Marvellous Mena
WOLF Qanawat on cutting churn with games, the three-persona system and building for a majlis-first audience
"In the MENA region, gaming is intensely communal. It's a digital extension of gathering in a physical ‘majlis’ meeting place or cafe"
New Offerings
YouTube launches supervised kid accounts across MENA with new parental controls
New accounts include built-in parental controls and safety protections
Funding For Games
Supercell opens applications for Africa-focused developer grants
Equity-free grants range from $20,000 to $200,000
Funding For Games
Google launches $1m Indie Games Fund for African developers
Ten indie game studios will receive between $50,000 and $200,000 each
Marvellous Mena
iBloxx Studios on building StrayShot for mobile, seven-figure backing and the road to console
"We fully understand the scepticism around web3 gaming and that's exactly why our philosophy has always been 'game-first"
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group partners with Genvid and Massive Studios to expand AI access for Saudi developers
The agreement includes training, mentorship and educational programmes to develop local talent
Marvellous Mena
Ouaz Games on surviving hypercasual's collapse and the rise of browser games
"I see new studios with no capital trying to ship console or Steam titles because they think that's what makes you a 'real' studio"
Direct Delivery
Tamatem launches first internally developed game with King of Delivery 2
The company has integrated local brand partnerships directly into the game world as part of the player experience
Going Global
Nigeria to bring first-ever developer delegation and booth to Gamescom 2026
The delegation is led by Maliyo Games founder Hugo Obi
Lagos Games Week
“The studios that thrive will not be those that resist AI. They will be those that learn how to use it effectively"
Maliyo Games CEO Hugo Obi told Lagos Games Week the studios that thrive will use AI rather than resist it
Lagos Games Week Takeaways
5 takeaways from Lagos Games Week 2026: Packed halls, stronger panels and embracing AI as a tool
We round up the key trends and talking points from this week's big show in Nigeria
Event Milestone
Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2026 attracts more than 43,000 attendees in largest edition yet
The festival hosted 66 esports tournaments with prizes worth up to AED 1m ($272,000)
Online Safety
UAE bans children under-15s from social media accounts
Children under 15 cannot access social media accounts even with parental consent
Lagos Games Week
African games industry has moved from potential to production says Maliyo CEO Hugo Obi
Maliyo Games CEO Hugo Obi used his Lagos Games Week keynote to argue the African games industry has entered a production era
Lagos Games Week
Most people take an unexpected route into games says Global Game Jam director
Global Game Jam executive director Maria Burns Ortiz shares why there is no single path into a career in games
Events
Lagos Games Week 2026 kicks off two days of talks, exhibitions and showcases
The event centres on connecting African game development talent with global markets, under the theme "Play Without Borders”
Roblox In Mena
Roblox says “chat will remain off in the majority of the Middle East" until Arabic moderation matures
Following PGbiz's analysis of the Savvy-Roblox MoU last month, Roblox MENAT GM Mohamed El Sheakh responded to a series of questions on its MENA strategy
Esports World Cup
Esports Foundation expands co-streaming program for EWC and ENC 2026
The Foundation is committing $2m in creator rewards
New Partnerships
Qiddiya City signs five-year partnership with MPL MENA
The partnership will focus on fan engagement, community initiatives, and youth-focused activations
Market Report
Asia and MENA video game revenue set to surpass $100bn by 2030
Niko Partners' report shows China's mini games now account for nearly 20% of mobile game spending
New Office
Sheba Joy opens new office in Beijing
The move is part of its efforts to accelerate social gaming innovation for the Middle East
Morocco Gaming Expo
Studio expansions and $3bn ambitions take centre stage at Morocco Gaming Expo
Morocco is targeting $3 billion in games revenue and 1% of the global market by 2030
Marvellous Mena
Dubai hosts first-ever DEF Education & Gaming Summit on June 4th
The summit covers gaming careers, esports, content creation and digital innovation
Marvellous Mena
NJD Games creative director Baraa Odeh on building a racing franchise and taking Hajwala culture global
"One of the key factors behind KOH’s success has been understanding the community and building gameplay experiences that keep players socially engaged over time"
New Venue
Esports World Cup gets new Paris venue as tickets set to go live on May 29th
The tournament will take place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Competitive Gaming
Esports Nations Cup 2026 introduces wildcard slots
Solidarity Slots, Host Region Slots and Special Invites aim to boost opportunities and make competitions more accessible