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Gaming Trends in the Middle East

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The Middle East is currently experiencing a gaming boom, which has been helped by the COVID pandemic. Gaming has now become one of the most popular pastimes for people of ages, whether on smartphones, PCs, or consoles.

Mobile gaming leads the way, with an estimated 25% growth in 2020, with the region having around 100 million users. This increase provides opportunities for governments and the private sector, as this form of entertainment sweeps the region.

Things are looking rosy in the Middle East for entertainment. It will be the first time the region will host the FIFA World Cup in November, and new gaming enterprises are being founded every day.

One major element is esports. The Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund – PIF has invested $3bn in the sector. With a mix of buying teams, and investing in infrastructure, the Saudis believe the industry is only trending one way – up.

The Middle East is certainly positioning itself at the forefront of technological advancement. Besides gaming, blockchain technology is something of interest in the UAE and Saudi, as well as the Metaverse. It’s fair to say Gulf nations are investing in industries to diversify away from their reliance on oil and gas.

Many esports events are now being held in the Middle East too, Dubai to host POPC Live!, one of the biggest esports, comics, and YouTuber pop culture shows on the planet. Nevertheless, it doesn’t stop there. Dubai will also launch the Dubai esports festival in November 2022, to get an even larger foothold in the industry, and provide world-class facilities.

Besides popular esports games such as DOTA 2, Fortnite, and FIFA, other genres are also becoming increasingly popular in the Middle East. One of these is strategy games such as chess. Netflix series such as the Queen’s Gambit has helped the game become mainstream, as well as its simplicity to play.

In fact, strategy games are all the rage, competing to win and at the same time keeping your mind sharp. Surprisingly games like blackjack have seen popularity in recent years, especially online, as Arabs are able to access offshore sites, via a VPN and using cryptocurrency.

To help Arab players, comparison sites list all the best online casinos in one place, which provide customer support in English and Arabic. Moreover, Middle Eastern players are able to claim a generous welcome bonus to get started and read guides on how to play legally.

As the region is relatively young, it’s no surprise that gaming has skyrocketed in recent years. For example, in Saudi Arabia, 25% of the population is aged between 0 – 14, meaning games designed for children are big business. Some of the most popular titles include Roblox and Minecraft, with Saudi youth enjoying watching their favorite streamers on platforms such as Twitch.

Furthermore, the Middle East has produced plenty of homegrown talent. The most famous esports star is Msdossary, a Saudi native who’s a master at FIFA football. He currently plays for the esports team – Team Falcons and is the 2018 FIFA World Champion. In the esports world, he is considered a megastar, with over 350,000 followers on Twitter and 215,000 followers on Twitch. Msdossary is also close friends with the Crown Prince – MBS.

He’s somewhat of a poster child for the esports revolution currently occurring in Saudi Arabia. Many youngsters wish to emulate his accomplishments. It’s estimated that 89% of Saudi Arabians are gamers and by 2030, the industry should grow 50x. Therefore, Saudi Arabia will be a global hub for gaming and esports, with the future looking bright!

The upcoming trend of virtual reality (VR) is also gaining big investment in the Gulf States. The market has grown 43% since 2021, and Dubai is the hub for technology.

Dubai has experiences for both VR and AR that allow individuals to experience games in all different genres. In addition to gaming, the technology is used to take people on tours of the legendary skyline. One example of this is the VR park at Dubai Mall, which allows people to experience trips to be closer to their culture, heritage, and faith.

The future of gaming is exciting in the Middle East because of huge investment in the industry, as well as the young populace. It’s certainly one industry that will bring massive returns for the region in years to come. And with smartphones, more and more games are available to play, with some even locally developed. It sure is a good time in the Middle East for everything gaming.

Gaming

ZITRO LAUNCHES MERGING FU POTS

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Discover the world of Merging Fu Pots and unveil the hidden fortunes within each pot! At 75 credits, players can access 3 combinable features: the Green Pot (Multiplier), the Orange Pot (Double), and the Blue Pot (Extra Spin) to unlock up to 7 different Bonus Links!

But at the boost level bet of 100 credits, players will unlock 1 Merged Pot, which combines the Double, Multiplier, and Extra Spin features for a new gameplay experience! Land 15 link symbols and claim the GRAND MEGA or MEGA jackpot with a spin of a wheel.

The thrill of Fu Pots, now with an extra boost!

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Asia

Mythpat, GamerFleet, Piyush Joshi Gaming: India’s popular Minecraft Players Gear Up for the Ultimate Battle in Creators Rumble

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Get ready to dive into an electrifying, one-of-a-kind gaming spectacle as India’s most talented gamers face off in the much-anticipated Minecraft tournament titled Creators Rumble, an initiative by OP Gaming, a subsidiary of OpraahFx. This event is set to bring together India’s top Minecraft creators, who will challenge each other and display their mastery over the game in a thrilling competition spanning three rounds which includes Parkour, MLG and PvP. 

This event marks the first time that India’s top Minecraft influencers and gaming creators unite in an official tournament format, bringing fans and players alike a whole new level of excitement.

Divided into six teams of four members, they will face off across action-packed Minecraft rounds  designed to test every skill—from strategy and creativity to adaptability and teamwork.

Mythpat aka Mithilesh Patankar, one of India’s leading Youtuber and gaming influencers, shared his excitement saying, “Creators Rumble will be a chance to bring the Minecraft gaming community closer, strengthening bonds among creators and igniting excitement for both fans and gamers. India has a huge Minecraft fanbase, and this tournament will introduce even more gamers to the fun of Minecraft.”

The inaugural edition of Creators Rumble will tap into Minecraft’s worldwide popularity, which has grown steadily since its release. In October 2023, Mojang Studios, the game’s developer, revealed it has sold over 300 million copies, making Minecraft the best-selling video game in history. Players of all ages continue to be captivated by its open-ended gameplay and limitless creative potential, where they can build worlds and structures limited only by their imagination.

Anticipating the prospects Mansi Gupta, Chief Business Officer at OpraahFx, emphasized on the industry impact saying, “India’s gaming landscape is thriving, and we believe that the nation has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s biggest pools of gaming talent. The Creators Rumble is a platform for growth, not only for seasoned players but for the entire creator economy. We’re here to support these creators as they captivate audiences with their talents in Minecraft.”

The Creator’s Rumble will see iconic players Mythpat (Mithilesh Patankar) and Gamerfleet (Anshu Bisht) showcasing some exhilarating gaming experience joined by popular gaming creators, Piyush Joshi Gaming (younger brother of popular Indian YouTuber, Sourav Joshi), AndreoBee (Naveen Yadav), MC Addon (Dipanshu Prajapati), PSD1 (Prathamesh), Harshita (Harshita Shukla), ShadowShooter (Pankaj Kumar Sahoo), I.M.Kopi (Bibek Jung Kunwar), Proboiz (Paresh Solanki), Mr Lapis (Jitender Kumar), GameBeat (Nitin Tyagi), Risible Twins (Kartik and Kunal), Yug Playz (Yug Thakkar), Agnit Plays (Vinit Aggarwal), GamerJatin (Jatin Makhija), Spunky Insaan (Harshit Nema), Pahadi Gaming (Lokesh Karakoti), DevXD (Pankaj Dev), Ro9nie (Rohan Chhabra), Sidh4rth (Siddharth), CassalFx (Shrey Patel) and Dattrax Gaming (Harvest Dewangan).

With this monumental event, OP Gaming aims to further solidify India’s role in the global gaming landscape and showcase the extraordinary creativity and camaraderie of the Minecraft community.

The tournament is scheduled to take place on November 22 (Friday) and will be streamed live on the OP Gaming YouTube channel. Six teams – Team RedstoneTeam Gold, Team Emeralds, Team ShulkerTeam Amethyst, and Team Diamonds, will compete in a series of thrilling challenges, vying for the prestigious title and showcasing the finest Minecraft talent in India.

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Gaming

THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA RELEASES NEW AQUARION SPECIAL SKIN IN LATEST UPDATE

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Midjiwan, the award-winning independent studio behind The Battle of Polytopia has today released a new Aquarion Special Skin, additional language options and balance updates to the recently reworked Aquarion tribe. Players will dive deep into the Ritiki Marshlands encountering a lost Aquarion outpost with the new skin known as “The Forgotten”.

Long ago, when the Aquarion Empire vanished beneath the waves. One remote outpost in the swampy atolls lost all contact, leading its inhabitants to believe they were the last of their kind. This forgotten tribe evolved in isolation, adapting to the marshy landscapes with squid-like appendages and unique abilities to command the swamp and its creatures.

Using the unique abilities of “The Forgotten”, players can build on water, summon giant squids, create speed enhancing bubbles, ride crocodiles, tame toads, and traverse their marshy terrains with ease.

In addition, the latest update to the game now offers expanded language options: Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Polish, Thai, Turkish & Vietnamese.

Christian Lövstedt, CEO of The Battle of Polytopia, commented: “I feel that this skin is one of the best we’ve created and has quickly become my personal favourite. Additionally, we have added Bubble Tech to the Aquarion Waterways, making that tribe even greater. With expanded language options and new gameplay mechanics, we’re inviting players to dive into the rich lore and strategy that make the Battle of Polytopia truly special.”

To celebrate the launch of the new update, Midjiwan hosted an exclusive livestream event, offering fans a unique look behind the scenes, live gameplay, and discussions with the development team – the livestream is available to watch now: The Forgotten livestrea m by Midjiwan.

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