Video Games in the Kingdom

Video Games in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are electronic games featuring interactive systems and advanced technology in their design and production. Players engage with these games using controllers or keyboards to receive visual feedback, which is displayed on video display devices such as television screens equipped with speakers.

Video games have been subject to regulatory oversight in the Kingdom, where the Saudi Esports Federation was established in 2017. Its purpose is to foster and advance the gaming community and industry within the Kingdom, while also creating an environment conducive to cultivating elite athletes in the Kingdom who can compete in global tournaments.

With the proliferation of video games in the Kingdom, relevant agencies undertook their regulation and established their controls. In November 2016, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media launched an age classification campaign for electronic games (video games) to introduce new standards for classifying video games available in the Kingdom.

In line with advancements in this genre of gaming, the commission formulated new standards for classifying electronic games (video games) as an alternative to the European (PEGI) and American (ESRB) classifications presently featured on game covers. This step aims to establish a classification system with standards aligned with the values of Saudi society. Additionally, it offers an extensive and distinct guideline for game developers and distributors, assisting them in identifying the suitable age demographics for their games within the Kingdom. Furthermore, it facilitates refining game content to resonate with the community while maintaining the integrity of the gaming experience.

Rush Gaming Festival as part of Riyadh Season. (Saudipedia)

With the rising demand for video games in the Kingdom, numerous events have emerged to showcase Saudi talent in this field. The (PUBG) event was organized by the General Sports Authority (now the Ministry of Sport) during the Jeddah Season in June 2019. Held at King Abdullah Sports City, the event garnered popularity among electronic game enthusiasts.

There are also numerous entities that organize video game events. For instance, the General Entertainment Authority, within the Riyadh Season, organized the electronic games festival 'Insomnia Saudi' in November 2019. This festival featured the participation of international companies specializing in the world of electronic games, such as Nintendo, Microsoft, PUBG, Sony, and EPIC GAMES. 'Fortnite Game Directors', known as the largest electronic games festival in the Middle East, showcased the best and latest electronic games, including competitive tournaments, the latest virtual reality technologies, and new games.

With the increasing popularity of video games, the Kingdom has emerged as the world's fastest-growing market in the field of electronic games, with one out of every two internet users engaging in gaming. The Kingdom also boasts the highest global rate of smartphone usage. Electronic games rank as the second most common reason for people to use the Internet, following social media.

The societal reality in the Kingdom enhances the growth of video games and the diversity of their activities. With about two-thirds of the population being young people under the age of 30, the Saudi market has become the largest in the region. This has led to investment opportunities in thirty-three specific fields that enhance local content within the sector. Spending on games has reached SAR3.75 billion, and this has attracted the establishment of 250 gaming companies. These companies contribute to supporting, developing, and advancing the gaming sector in the Kingdom.

The video game sector has witnessed numerous initiatives that align with the growth of its market. In April 2020, the 'Learn' platform was launched, offering three specific initiatives aimed at equipping the nation's youth with skills and enabling them to undergo diverse cognitive experiences in the field of electronic gaming. Additionally, it serves to inspire them to innovate, develop their own games, and discover digital solutions in pertinent fields. This effort was bolstered by the 'Gamers Without Borders - Saudi Arabia' tournament, the world's largest esports tournament officially inaugurated by the Kingdom that year.

As part of efforts to develop video games in the Kingdom, NEOM and MBC Group signed a joint project agreement in February 2022 to launch the first studio in the region dedicated to producing high-quality AAA-rated video games. It is expected to be launched at NEOM Media Center during the year 2023, supporting the growth of this sector in the region and its transformation into a major center for producing distinctive and quality content.

In July 2022, the Saudi Esports Federation initiated free training courses for all aimed at uncovering talents and fostering their skills. These courses covered game design, development, and release within the GameDev region, presented by Nine66 as part of the Gamers Season. This initiative was launched during the Kingdom's hosting of the largest global event in electronic sports and gaming, which ran from July to September of the same year.

More events were also organized to contribute to the development of video games in the Kingdom, notably the launch of the Saudi Esports Federation for the Esports Federation Cup in August 2022. This tournament saw the participation of all Ministry of Sport-affiliated government clubs. These were organized in the VOV area for community tournaments within the 'Season of Gamers'.

Part of the audience of Rush Gaming Festival as part of Riyadh Season. (Saudipedia)

With the development of video games in the Kingdom, the expansion of their scope, the diversification of their activities, and the emergence of numerous talents, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz launched the National Strategy for Esports and Gaming in September 2022. This marked a new step towards leadership and the ambition to establish the Kingdom as a global hub in this sector by 2030.

The strategy enhances the technical capabilities and skills of talents and includes three main goals: raising the quality of life by improving players’ experiences and providing new entertainment opportunities; achieving an economic impact by contributing approximately SAR50 billion directly and indirectly to the gross domestic product; and providing the foundational environment for developing competencies.

The strategy aims to achieve several goals that bolster the development of gaming and talent capabilities. It seeks to attain global leadership, enhance the Kingdom’s standing on the international stage, and foster the production of over thirty globally competitive games in the Kingdom’s studios, ultimately positioning the Kingdom among the top three countries in terms of the number of professional Esports gamers.

The strategy includes numerous initiatives that cater to the diverse range of games and players' abilities. The Kingdom intends to implement them through eighty-six initiatives covering the entire value chain. These projects will be launched and managed by approximately twenty government and private entities. They encompass establishing business incubators, hosting major gaming and Esports events, establishing educational academies, and developing regulations to foster growth in this rapidly evolving sector.

The strategy encompasses all aspects of organizing and developing games, with its initiatives divided into eight focus areas, including: technology and hardware development, game production, esports, supplementary services, and other enabling factors such as infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, education, and talent attraction, as well as financing and financial support.

In September 2022, the Ministry of Health announced a partnership with VOV, a company specializing in video games and esports, aimed at enhancing the well-being and health of the Kingdom's electronic game community and ensuring the safety of gamers within the video game system. Cooperation focuses on four main aspects, comprising physical health, mental health, vision therapy, and nutrition.

Following the end of precautionary measures for the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person video game events resumed. The first among them was the "Make It and Play It" competition held within the Gamers Season in September 2022. Hosted by the Game Developers Zone presented by Nine66, the event took place on Boulevard Riyadh City. Over three hundred male and female students, ranging from nine to seventeen years old, participated in the competition.