Mega Merger
Tag: MENA
Marvelous Mena
Invest Qatar on the country’s gaming ambitions, attracting global studios and developing local talent
New Offerings
Saudi Esports Federation launches Level Up programme for Academy graduates
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New Offerings
Roblox launches Arabic social channels with Roblox Arabia
The launch comes as Roblox expands its wider MENA presence
Mobile Mavens
Gamescom 2026: The Mobile Mavens discuss rising competition, the indie opportunity and the changing face of games
The Mavens share their thoughts from this year’s Gamescom
Podcast | Episode 103
Gamescom 2026 insights and Sony Music's shock Puzzle & Dragons investment | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 103...
Gaming Revolution
The Brian Ward era: How Savvy built Saudi Arabia's games industry and what happens next
We analyse Brian Ward's time at Savvy Games Group, from its billion-dollar acquisitions to the wider effort to build a games ecosystem in Saudi Arabia
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group signs new MoUs with Gosu Academy and Warpzone AI Labs
Savvy is continuing to expand its talent development efforts in the Kingdom
Developer Training
DMCC and Epiphany launch gaming mentorship programme
The programme focuses on funding, monetisation, publishing, growth and partnerships
Funding News
Saudi gaming startup Takahouse raises $1.5m from Impact46
The company is focused on games that combine entertainment with social interaction
Academy Rebrand
GameUp Africa rebrands as GameUp Academy with always-on learning platform
The academy is moving from a fixed boot camp model to an always-on learning platform
Game Jam
Global Game Jam and Zoud launch financial literacy jam with $140K prize pool
The virtual jam will run from October 15th to November 15th, 2026
New Offerings
Dubai and Xsolla to launch new game accelerator in October
The Good Game Club podcast is also relocating to Dubai
Leadership Change
Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward steps down
Turqi Alnowaiser will serve as interim acting CEO
Saudi Signing
Saudi Esports Federation signs MoU with BSF to support esports growth
The partnership will explore sponsorship opportunities for major esports initiatives and tournaments
New Partnerships
Savvy Games Group and MCIT sign MoU to support Saudi games talent and startups
The agreement will expand access to Savvy Academy programmes through the Saudi Digital Academy
Marvelous Mena
Dubai brings biggest-ever pavilion to Gamescom 2026 with top 10 gaming hub ambition
The emirate projects around 30,000 gaming jobs and close to $1bn in annual revenue by 2033
Strategic Move
Naphora Games enters soft launch with three mobile titles
A fourth title is planned for soft launch in late September, with two more coming in Q4 2026
Expansions
Roblox to establish MENA headquarters in Riyadh
The move supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital economy objectives
Marvellous Mena
Gaza Sky Geeks' Leyan Zahdeh on training game developers in Palestine amid displacement and war
"For Gazan students, scope control is not only an industry skill, but it is also a survival skill. A small finished game is more valuable than a large broken project"
Industry Report
Africa and Middle East games market forecast to reach $8.5bn as African gamer base hits 406m
Mobile is forecast to generate 81.8% of Africa’s games revenue in 2026
Marvelous Mena
Floaty Studio's Abdullah Salah: "Our roots are in Saudi Arabia, but our ambition has always been global"
We caught up with Floaty founder Abdullah Salah to discuss Hero Squad, the studio's $1m round, and building a Saudi game studio for the long run
Esports World Cup
EWC Paris 2026 draws 2m visits as AG.AL claims Club Championship
The tournament reached 850m viewers and generated 440m hours watched
Esports Nations Cup
Esports Nations Cup postponed to November 2027
Existing ENC Development Fund commitments will remain in place
New Partnerships
Abu Dhabi's FSRA and GCGRA to strengthen regulatory cooperation
The agreement establishes a framework for information sharing and coordinated supervision
Going Global
Maliyo Games unveils first-ever Games from Nigeria pavilion at Gamescom 2026
The pavilion will host a three-day programme of showcases, presentations and networking events
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