Gaming
New data from Niko Partners: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt together will have 85.8 million gamers generating $3.1 billion in games revenue by 2025
Niko Partners, a market research and consulting firm covering video games, esports, and streaming in Asia, today announced the release of their MENA (Middle East North Africa) Games Market Report. MENA has quickly emerged as a key growth region for the global video game industry, and this is the first major report covering the MENA region.
To provide a representative overview of Arabic speaking markets, the report focuses on what Niko calls the MENA-3: Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt. The report includes a comprehensive market model and 5-year forecast through 2025 by games segment, key data on game publishers, games rankings, growth drivers, and trends. This includes details on esports, product distribution, payments, financial transaction events, regulations, and qualitative and quantitative analysis on gamer demand, spending, and behavior, with gamer behavior based off a survey of 3,000 gamers. Spotlights on the Gulf States, North Africa, and Jordan are also included.
Key takeaways from the reports include:
- MENA-3 games revenue was $1.76 billion in 2021, rising to $3.14 billion in 2025 at a 5-year CAGR of 13.8%.
- MENA-3 gamers reached 65.32 million in 2021, rising to 85.76 million in 2025.
- Saudi Arabia is the gaming powerhouse of Arabic speaking nations in MENA, balancing population size with high spending power yielding the highest revenue.
- The UAE is representative of smaller Gulf states. Arabic is the official language, yet the population is predominately expatriates.
- Egypt is an emerging games market with an active and competitive gaming community and MENA-3’s largest market by gamers.
- Growth will be driven by higher spending per user, additional government support across games and esports, and more gamers entering the market.
- Nearly half of the MENA population is under 25 years old and have grown up as digital natives with gaming playing a huge role in their entertainment.
- Governments in the region are supportive of the video game sector. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have introduced policies to encourage game localization, local game development, new studios and offices of international game companies, and hosting major esports tournaments.
Niko’s research methodology combines data from game developers and publishers, data from other sources such as retailers and app markets, our market model, and our gamer surveys. We also regularly interview executives at games and hardware companies as well as government officials. We leverage our own proprietary primary data combined with direct access to a panel of millions of consumers throughout Asia, to create deep qualitative and quantitative analysis, market models, and five-year forecasts. Our analysts regularly conduct gamer surveys, interviews, and focus groups throughout the region.
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Gaming
Make-A-Wish® and Lords Mobile Unite This Thanksgiving Season to Bring Hope to Children Through Mobile Charity Event
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From November 26-30, Lords Mobile players worldwide can help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses through a global in-game charity challenge.
Make-A-Wish®, the world’s leading wish-granting organization, is delighted to announce a special collaboration with IGG, the global developer and publisher of hit mobile titles.
This Thanksgiving season, the two organizations are coming together to transform the spirit of gratitude into global impact through a community charity challenge inside Lords Mobile.
From November 26 to 30, 2025, players from around the world will unite across their respective Kingdoms to combine play with purpose. By completing five days of in-game quests and collecting 30 event points, players can unlock the exclusive “Wish Upon a Star” Decoration – a special symbol of hope within the Lords Mobile world.
Once 50,000 players across the global server have claimed the Wish Upon a Star Decoration, IGG will donate $50,000 USD to Make-A-Wish to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The donation will support wishes in the USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, and Korea.
Players who wish to enhance their event experience can also purchase four in-game packs priced at USD 4.99 or above to unlock premium rewards such as Mystic Carpets, Royal Coins, and more.
April Stallings, Charitable Gaming and Creators Community Manager at Make-A-Wish International said:
“Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, generosity, and connection. We’re deeply grateful to IGG and the global Lords Mobile community for harnessing their passion for play to help make life-changing wishes come true. Together, we’re turning the power of gaming into the power of hope.”
As players unite to achieve their community goals, Make-A-Wish will highlight real wish stories from participating countries, connecting the in-game achievements to the life-changing impact they help create.
Together, IGG and Make-A-Wish are showing the power of the gaming community to make a difference.
The post Make-A-Wish® and Lords Mobile Unite This Thanksgiving Season to Bring Hope to Children Through Mobile Charity Event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
155.io
155.io flips the script again with Coin Flip game release
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155.io, the live content studio built for a mobile-first world, has turned convention on its head with the launch of Coin Flip, a machine-run coin-flipping game.
Tossing coins is as old as time as a means to settle football matches, pub games, and everyday decisions – now 155.io has transformed that timeless ritual into a live, 24/7 digital betting experience.
Central to Coin Flip is a real coin-flipping machine, powered by a precision solenoid and monitored by an overhead camera. Every coin flip is analysed by machine learning and AI systems that record and validate results in real time, feeding the outcome directly into a secure game engine. All players have to do is correctly pick heads or tails – one side features the U.S. President and the other the American flag.
Coin Flip runs continuously, 24 hours a day, offering the world’s simplest, fastest, and totally transparent betting experience.
155.io Founder and CEO Sam Jones commented: “Tossing coins is something humans have done for millennia to decide anything from fixtures to fiefdoms. Coin Flip modernises that ancient ritual, in true 155 style, and adds a competitive layer that makes it seriously entertaining.”
The post 155.io flips the script again with Coin Flip game release appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Counter-Strike 2
Just Dance, MLBB and HADO Added to Lineup of Global Gaming Icons for the Games of the Future 2025
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Phygital International (PI), the exclusive rights holder and custodian of the Games of the Future (GOTF), is unveiling the final game titles set to feature in this December’s pioneering phygital sports tournament, along with a powerful line-up of new global media partners who will bring the event to fans around the world.
With 11 disciplines and the world’s best athletes ready to compete across virtual and physical challenges, the Games of the Future 2025, taking place at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi from 18-23 December, promises to deliver a groundbreaking phygital showcase that will redefine what it means to play, perform and compete.
In addition to previously announced global esports icons such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Fortnite, Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, UFL and 3on3 Freestyle, Phygital International has confirmed three new titles that further broaden the depth and dynamism of the tournament. Each game has been carefully selected to complement a unique phygital discipline, showcasing the full spectrum of speed, skill and strategy that defines the Games of the Future.
Joining the roster is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), the global mobile gaming phenomenon that has defined the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre for millions of players worldwide. In the MOBA Mobile discipline, MLBB will see players battle in high intensity matches that test strategy, coordination and tactical mastery.
Adding rhythm and flair to the lineup, Just Dance, the world’s best-selling dance game series, will take centre stage in the Phygital Dancing competition. Renowned for its vibrant energy and expressive gameplay, Just Dance brings one of the world’s most dynamic and community-driven gaming experiences to GOTF 2025, where athletes will be challenged to combine choreography, precision and physical stamina as digital gameplay meets live performance in a visually electrifying showcase.
In the confirmed lineup of tournament games, the addition of HADO completes the roster, serving as the core of the virtual reality (VR) gaming competition. As a pioneering augmented reality (AR) experience, HADO integrates real-world body movements with digital game scenarios through wearable AR technology. Players do not use controllers; instead, they directly “control” virtual skills with their physical movements – running, dodging and aiming in the real world – with every action directly impacting the in-game situation and instantly reflected visually. HADO promises to deliver a fast-paced, visually stunning VR competitive experience.
“These newly announced titles highlight the full range of phygital sports that people can experience at the Games of the Future 2025. From the expressive energy of dance, the global appeal of mobile esports to the groundbreaking innovation of AR gameplay, this second wave of games highlights the diversity and excitement of phygital sport,” said Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International.
In addition to expanding its game lineup, Phygital International is also announcing a series of major global media partnerships, ensuring that the Games of the Future 2025 will be accessible to fans around the world through both digital and broadcast platforms.
The post Just Dance, MLBB and HADO Added to Lineup of Global Gaming Icons for the Games of the Future 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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