NEOM has introduced the 5 Saudi sport studios chosen to obtain funding below its flagship Stage Up gaming accelerator, marking the programme’s largest cycle to this point.
Following an preliminary mentorship part supporting an additional 18 studios, the newest cohort represents probably the most expansive Stage Up cycle but, in response to NEOM.
The accelerator is designed to help early-stage studios with funding, mentorship and entry to worldwide publishing networks.
NEOM funds Saudi gaming studios
After a aggressive first part that noticed greater than 23 studios obtain mentorship throughout a spread of matters, 5 studios have been chosen to progress to the funded stage.
Every will obtain funding to speed up product launch, seven extra months of mentorship totalling 600 hours per studio, and entry to NEOM’s world Writer Accomplice Community.
The community consists of UK-based video games writer Kwalee and Tamatem Video games.
The 5 Saudi studios chosen are:
- Aiqona Productions: A artistic studio mixing animation, storytelling and interactive sport design
- Fourcast Studio: An indie developer engaged on a social PC multiplayer sport with distinctive gameplay mechanics
- Makera: A user-generated content material studio enabling communities to create and form gaming experiences
- OFF BOX Studios: An rising developer centered on progressive and immersive video games
- Phys: A studio specialising in technology-driven video games that encourage motion and train amongst youngsters
Govt Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM, Toby Evan-Jones, mentioned: “Over the previous three years, NEOM’s Stage Up Accelerator has been instrumental in supporting Saudi Arabia’s first technology of sport builders via pre-seed funding and mentorship.
“This newest cycle builds on that success and displays NEOM’s dedication to empowering gifted studios who convey contemporary pondering to the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem.”
Gaming sector progress
Pushed by NEOM Gaming, Stage Up is the Kingdom’s longest-running gaming accelerator and a core initiative below Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030’s Nationwide Gaming and Esports Technique.
The gaming sector is projected to contribute greater than SR50bn ($13.33bn) to nationwide GDP by 2030.
Thus far, the Stage Up programme has supported the creation of greater than 170 jobs, achieved 100 per cent portfolio survivability, and delivered robust progress amongst collaborating studios.
A number of graduates from earlier cycles have gone on to achieve worldwide recognition. Fahy Studio secured the primary worldwide publishing deal for a Saudi start-up sport developer with Kwalee, alongside $1.75m in funding from Impact46 and Merak Capital.
Different graduates, together with Starvania Studio and Majestic Thoughts Video games, gained the “Finest Video games Startup” award on the 2024 and 2025 MENA Video games Business Awards.
