RIYADH: Savvy Games Group, owned by a public investment fund, has signed a memorandum of understanding with international gaming commerce company Xsolla to establish an interactive entertainment center in Riyadh.
The partnership focuses on job creation and game development and publishing, and aims to create 3,600 jobs in the video game industry in Saudi Arabia by 2030. This initiative supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and aims to create both regional and global economic opportunities for developers.
Under the agreement, Xsolla will establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh, providing product development, technology, customer support and business development services to help developers and publishers scale their projects in the Middle East.
The collaboration will also see the launch of key initiatives, including the Xsolla Game Development Academy, Incubator and Accelerator programs, designed to nurture talent, support both local and international game development studios, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for the industry.
“This partnership with Xsolla represents a significant step forward in our mission to bring global prominence to Saudi Arabia’s gaming and esports ecosystem,” said Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group.
“By combining our resources and expertise, we are creating jobs and building a dynamic, sustainable industry that will drive opportunity and creativity for years to come,” Ward added.
The partnership will also focus on hosting industry-leading gaming events, funding development projects and connecting local studios with international investors.
This collaboration comes amid the recent esports boom in Saudi Arabia, exemplified by the country's first-ever esports World Cup, which featured a record prize pool of $62.5 million.
It is in line with the Kingdom's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to create jobs and contribute $13 billion to the country's gross domestic product.
“We are excited to partner with Savvy Games Group on this groundbreaking initiative. Our shared vision for the future of video games is a perfect fit and together we aim to empower developers, foster creativity and support the next generation of talent in Saudi Arabia,” said Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer at Xsolla.
Savvy Games Group also announced a separate letter of intent with Niantic Inc., a global leader in augmented reality and location-based gaming.
Savvy will support Niantic’s expansion into the MENA region, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
The goal of this collaboration is to inspire people to play together with their communities through live events and localized content in the region.
Savvy will also help Niantic build regional offices, including recruiting local talent and setting up office space to accelerate Niantic's growth and increase mobile gamer engagement in the Middle East.
“Our partnership with Savvy Games Group will significantly increase our reach in this dynamic region and support our growing community of gamers,” said John Hanke, founder and CEO of Niantic.
Through these partnerships, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a major player in the global gaming and esports industry, fostering innovation and driving economic growth.
