Report: 81% of gamers and developers in Saudi highly optimistic about industry growth

Report: 81% of gamers and developers in Saudi highly optimistic about industry growth

DUBAI: Eighty-one percent of gamers and developers in Saudi Arabia are highly optimistic about the growth of the industry over the coming year, according to a newly released report.

AstroLabs, in partnership with asset management firm IMPACT46 and esports platform PLAYHERA, produced the 2023 Saudi Gaming Market Outlook Report, which provides an overview of the landscape in the Kingdom and features insights from 130 local gamers and developers.

More than 60 percent of Saudi gamers and developers expressed their confidence in government support, with the majority believing that state investment would accelerate growth this year.

Saudi’s $38-billion investment in gaming and the launch of the Saudi Esports Federation were factors that make the Saudi government “the most significant enabler of the sector,” according to the report.

Fostering the growth of gaming in the Kingdom through upskilling presents key opportunities for the Saudi sector. This was crucial considering the ecosystem was still young, with almost 80 percent of game producers having up to five years of experience in the industry, the report stated.

The report highlighted the importance of revenue generation for those in the industry, with only 33 percent of professional gamers saying they generated some form of income from content streaming and tournament winnings.

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