Saudi gaming ambitions need local leadership, says DigiPen executive
Raymond Yan of DigiPen emphasizes that Saudi Arabia’s game development success depends on homegrown talent building sustainable studios, not just creating prototypes. The Level Up Accelerator, now in its third cohort, has funded 15 local studios to bridge the gap between creative ability and business viability. Yan warns against overreliance on foreign expertise, stressing that long-term industry health requires Saudi-owned publishers and experienced mentors.
The Level Up Accelerator, backed by DigiPen Institute of Technology and based in NEOM, has entered its third cohort, having now funded 15 Saudi game studios since its inception. This initiative is part of broader efforts tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, aiming to establish the Kingdom as a regional hub for creative industries. Raymond Yan, a senior executive at DigiPen, emphasizes that while local talent has demonstrated strong technical ability—evidenced by successful studios like Spoilz and Kamelna—there remains a critical gap in business acumen necessary to sustain companies beyond initial prototypes. The accelerator’s 12-month program seeks to bridge this divide by fostering operational maturity, including monetization strategies, live operations, and publishing partnerships. Yan warns that overreliance on foreign expertise could undermine long-term industry health, stressing the need for homegrown publishers and experienced mentors to guide startups after grant funding ends.
The ecosystem’s development hinges on three pillars: committed Saudi founders, government-backed talent pipelines, and a mature industry infrastructure. While the first two are advancing, the third—mentorship, publishing, and production know-how—is still underdeveloped. Yan cautions against studio leadership by committee or founders who attempt to manage every role themselves, advocating instead for clear chains of command and leaders who treat game development a
The push to build a domestic games industry in Saudi Arabia could reshape regional creative economies, potentially shifting power dynamics in the Middle East’s digital entertainment landscape. If successful, it may inspire similar initiatives across Gulf states, creating a network of homegrown studios that challenge Western dominance in game publishing and distribution. The emphasis on local leadership echoes earlier efforts in South Korea and China, where state-backed incubators helped cultivate globally competitive firms like Nexon and Tencent—though those cases also involved decades of sustained investment and market access. In Saudi Arabia, the risk lies in premature scaling without foundational business maturity, which could lead to a wave of startups that fail post-grant, undermining public confidence. The real test will be whether the Level Up Accelerator’s model can transition from funding prototypes to enabling long-term commercial viability. What may follow is increased colla