In a strategic move that reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional and global hub for the technology and digital entertainment sector, NEOM today announced the selection of five promising Saudi studios to receive comprehensive funding and support through its annual accelerator program, Level Up. This step further solidifies NEOM’s role as a global incubator for the electronic games industry, reflecting the rapid growth of the program, which is the largest iteration since its inception.
Strategic context: Vision 2030 and the gaming industry
This announcement is not just a passing event, but an integral part of the national strategy for games and esports launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which aims to make the Kingdom a global hub in this sector by 2030. This strategy seeks to diversify the national economy and provide new job opportunities, with expectations that the gaming sector will contribute more than 50 billion Saudi riyals (about 13.3 billion dollars) to the GDP, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the technical and creative fields.
Details of the "Level Up" program and the support provided
This year's edition witnessed fierce competition, launching with an initial phase that included over 23 local studios undergoing intensive mentorship programs covering all aspects of game development. Following a rigorous evaluation process based on technical and creative criteria, the five most outstanding studios were selected to advance to the next stage.
Winners will receive a comprehensive support package that includes:
- Major funding: to accelerate development and product launch processes.
- Specialized guidance: Mentoring sessions extending over seven months, totaling 600 hours per studio.
- Global partnerships: The opportunity to join the NEOM network, which includes major publishers such as the British company Kwalee, and the leading Middle East and North Africa company, Tamatem Games.
List of selected studios
The selected studios were distinguished by offering innovative visions that keep pace with global ambitions, namely:
- Aiqona Productions studio: Brilliantly blends animation and storytelling to deliver engaging interactive experiences.
- Fourcast Studio: Specializing in the development of unique indie games.
- Makera Studio: Focuses on developing user-generated content, promoting community engagement.
- OFF BOX Studios: A startup company working to create new, out-of-the-box entertainment experiences.
- Phys Studio: Offers games that encourage physical activity and movement, targeting children and teenagers.
Economic impact and success stories
Toby Evan Jones, Executive Director of Gaming at NEOM, explained that the Level Up accelerator has played a pivotal role over the past three years in empowering the next generation of developers. Previous cycles have yielded inspiring success stories, such as Fahi Studio, which signed the first international publishing agreement for a Saudi developer with Quali and secured $1.75 million in investment.
Other studios, such as Starvania and Majestic Mind Games, have also garnered prestigious regional awards, underscoring the quality of Saudi productions. Overall, the accelerator programs have contributed to creating over 170 specialized jobs for young Saudis and have supported more than 45 startups since 2023, thus strengthening the sustainability of this vital sector.
