Gaming
Gaming Trends in the Middle East
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
The mobile gaming market is growing and attracting new companies. GAMIVO is the latest example
Usually, consoles and PCs come to mind when discussing the gaming industry. The mobile sector is often treated as a child of a lesser god, even though it generates almost as much revenue as console and PC combined. Some companies can see this potential. For instance, the e-commerce platform GAMIVO has recently entered the mobile market, allowing players to buy in-game items cheaper.
Back on course
The entire video game industry has evolved incredibly, but the most spectacular has been the growth of the mobile sector. It expanded from 36.9 million dollars in 2016 to 93.2 billion in 2021. Unfortunately, the gaming market suffered from a decline that stemmed from the overoptimism of the pandemic era. As a result, the mobile gaming industry revenues dropped to 92.2 billion in 2022 and to 90.5 billion in 2023. Recent information has indicated this was a necessary correction rather than a long-term trend.
The latest Newzoo report, issued in August 2024, shows that the industry is on the right track again. According to analysts, the mobile sector will generate revenues of $92.6 billion, representing +3.0% growth year-on-year. It’s nearly half of the entire gaming industry.
Billions of players
Revenues are crucial, but they only show part of the story. To fully understand the size and potential of mobile gaming, it’s necessary to consider the number of players, which constantly grew even when revenues dropped. Newzoo estimates that it will reach 2.8 billion in 2024. It means that almost twice as many people play on mobile devices than on PCs and consoles combined. Currently, every third person on Earth plays on mobile devices, and there’s still space for further growth.
“There are emerging markets where smartphones and mobile networks can expand, providing new potential players. Furthermore, this type of entertainment has a low entry barrier because most popular games are free and don’t require high-end devices,” explains Mateusz Śmieżewski, the CEO at GAMIVO.
One hobby, different habits
GAMIVO is an example of a company that has recently joined the party to get a piece of the mobile pie. “We examined the mobile market for a very long time, trying to find a suitable place for us. It’s essential to understand that mobile gaming and mobile gamers differ from their PC or console counterparts. You can’t do the same things you do with PC and consoles and hope to replicate your success,” said Mateusz Śmieżewski.
Studies confirm this observation. Average PC and console players spend about 2.1 hours a day in virtual worlds. It’s half an hour more than mobile gamers. However, things get interesting when we take a look at playtime per week, which is the same for mobile and console (5.4 hours) and slightly longer for PC (5.7 hours). Moreover, typical PC and console owners play 2.6 and 2.7 days a week, respectively, while mobile players play 3.4 days per week.
Those statistics prove that PC and console players are more dedicated, spending more time in games’ worlds once they enter them. However, mobile gamers prefer shorter but more frequent sessions. They play while commuting or have a short amount of free time.
“Mobile players are more willing to uninstall games and give another title a chance. Hence, the gameplay has to be captivating and designed to provide quick but intense sessions.
Furthermore, even though the average weekly playtime is identical to PC players, many mobile players don’t think of themselves as gamers,” clarifies Mateusz Śmieżewski.
Another major difference regards the way in which revenue is generated. PC and console games traditionally represent the premium model, where players buy the game. Most popular mobile releases are free and generate revenue with microtransactions. Almost all titles allow players to spend their real money on virtual coins, crystals, and other items that can be used to unlock additional content or reduce cooldowns.
Entering the mobile market
Those contrasts and nuances scare most companies from the mobile market. Let’s see how GAMIVO has coped with this.
“We decided to launch a new product category dedicated to mobile gamers. Our model allows them to top up in-game accounts cheaply. As a result, they can save up to 30% on buying virtual items, upgrades, and other content. The GAMIVO offer includes the most popular mobile titles, such as Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile, and still extends,” describes Mateusz Śmieżewski.
“We dedicated a lot of time to research and analyses. Also, the development process required a lot of work to provide GAMIVO customers with safe transactions and a user-friendly environment. The first reactions are very positive, confirming our belief that our decision was right and there is still more space in the mobile game market,” concludes the GAMIVO CEO.
Gaming
AI Gives Horses for Courses True Meaning in ‘Owners Club’ Racing Game
Invincible GG, a groundbreaking competitive gaming platform and technology company, has outlined the latest AI developments of its interactive mobile horse racing game, Owners Club, which is set to provide a new injection of interest into the ancient sports of kings.
Following a successful game launch in Q3 2024 and activations at the Doncaster St. Leger and York Ebor festivals, thousands of Owners Club players have started to formulate an expansive game world that gives the masses the true feeling of horse ownership, breeding, and racing experiences.
Being founded on the latest in AI and Web3 technologies allows the game to evolve with more nuance over time, with the former being implemented to enhance users’ strategic horse development and create developing traits and performance benefits that can lead to further self-training opportunities in-game.
Each horse has its own unique, nuanced genetics and racing traits. These can be trained via evolving in-game activity—which will include collaborative intelligence in future releases and passed on to future colts and fillies to create racing dynasties that will stand the test of time while also bringing in lucrative in-game winnings and potential syndicate stud earnings.
Further features include an AI-powered event simulation engine (instead of predetermined RNGs), and sophisticated algorithms that factor in horse health, jockey decisions, and environmental factors that ensure Owners Club races maintain tension and excitement throughout, just as racing fans in the real world would experience from the grandstand.
Jonathan Strause, Invincible GG CEO, said: “Gamers of today want more than static, insular game worlds. They’re looking for immersive experiences in evolving ecosystems, multiplayer competition, and the feeling that they’re fully integrated into the game. Owners Club is offering just that for both current racing enthusiasts and the next generation of racing fans.
“With unrivaled AI integration into the theoretically unlimited stable of in-game horses, combined with back-end Web3 technology that empowers players to easily realize what true thoroughbred ownership and training feels like, Owners Club players can forge their own relationship with horse racing via the gamification of training, racing, and trading in the app, which can only help the future engagement of this ancient pastime.”
Owners Club will be showcased to its biggest live audience yet at the QIPCO British Champions Day on 19th October, 2024, with live races broadcasted as-live to screens around Ascot, with various prizes on offer for the winning owners.
Gaming
Evoplay introduces action-packed skill-based title Adrenaline Rush to wider operator network
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, is expanding the availability of its flagship 3D racing title Adrenaline Rush to all of its operator partners, following a successful exclusive release.
Adrenaline Rush combines the thrill of high-speed racing skill-based gaming mechanics, providing an immersive experience for players who enjoy a strategic and competitive edge in their gameplay. Players can engage in intense races where success is determined by both speed and skill, making it a standout title in Evoplay’s diverse portfolio.
Following its main global release on October 8th, Evoplay is set to launch two additional versions of the game, slot title Adrenaline Rush: Super Boost on October 22nd, and crash game Adrenaline Rush: XCrash on November 5th, creating an expanded offering that caters to a variety of player preferences.
Released initially as an exclusive, Adrenaline Rush has already garnered attention for its innovative mechanics and immersive gameplay, earning the Skill Games Supplier award at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards. With this wider release, Evoplay’s global operator network will now be able to offer the title to an even broader audience.
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Adrenaline Rush is a one-of-a-kind experience that perfectly blends competitive racing with skill-based gaming. Since its launch, it has resonated strongly with players, and we’re thrilled to now offer this exciting title to all of our operator partners globally.”
“The upcoming releases of the equally popular slot and crash versions will ensure that Adrenaline Rush remains a fan favourite across multiple formats.”
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