What is the cultural significance of video games in the MENA region?
The gaming industry is a major player in the entertainment and culture industry. In fact, it’s bigger than the movie and music industries combined. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of the fastest growing in terms of revenue and players. Video games are a unique industry that blends art and science, humanities and technology, intuition and data. Although there has been a lot of progress in localizing and culturalizing games in the MENA region, there is work to be done to make players from the region feel represented and to tell the stories from it. part of the world with global appeal.
Tell us about the economic impact of video gaming in the Middle East for job creation and income generation in line with Vision 2030.
The Saudi Vision 2030 is a driving force for change in the Middle East, representing a great opportunity to build a more sustainable future economy. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy provides a more comprehensive plan for how esports can contribute to change and growth in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. As shared by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, president of the Saudi Esports Federation, the National Gaming and Esports Strategy will contribute 1 percent of the GDP in 2030. In addition, it is expected to create 39,000 jobs in the gaming industry through in 2030 in Saudi Arabia.
We are very committed to supporting the strategy and Vision 2030. In October 2022, we announced our game development studio in Riyadh, expanding our corporate and publishing teams in the kingdom. We will increase our presence during 2023, shrinking the size of our team to reach 100 people based in Riyadh by the end of the year.
How does Sandsoft stay ahead of industry trends, and the importance of adopting new technologies to stay competitive in the fast-growing MENA gaming industry?
Technology for us is a means, not an end. Sandsoft strives to create high-end mobile-first gaming experiences that captivate players and build long-term relationships with them. As such, we are always exploring new ways to interact with consumers and we always keep our eyes open for new technologies. Let me share a couple of examples: we have a couple of projects exploring player ownership, leveraging blockchain technology and we’re also using artificial intelligence to explore art styles and concept for some of our new games.
Share your views on gaming diversity.
Everyone in the world – regardless of their race, their gender or their culture – wants to be part of the stories they love in a real and relatable way. Everyone should be able to release the hero in them when playing games, and game developers should offer them a wide selection of characters that will make sure they feel represented.
David Fernandez is the CEO of Sandsoft
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