Which game studios does Saudi Arabia own? A look at how the Kingdom's 2030 target is progressing
Our Directory currently lists more than 40 Saudi-based studios
Saudi Arabia's answer to that question operates on two levels: the global acquisitions made through sovereign wealth, and the homegrown studios being built inside the Kingdom itself.
At the top, the Public Investment Fund now owns 93.4% of Electronic Arts following a $55 billion acquisition, the largest single transaction in games industry history.
Savvy Games Group, PIF's dedicated gaming arm, separately acquired Scopely for $4.9bn, bringing Monopoly Go's developer under Saudi ownership, and has announced a $6bn deal to acquire Moonton from ByteDance, which remains pending.
A domestic industry taking shape
But Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in 2022, is not only about buying established companies. It targets 250 gaming companies, 39,000 sector jobs, and a $13.3bn contribution to GDP by 2030.
The homegrown side of that ambition is now producing results. The IsaKaba Studios Directory currently lists more than 40 Saudi-based studios, including Steer Studios, developer of Grunt Rush; Evlnu GameWorks; Khosouf Studio; Dreaming Door Studios; Nimble Fox Games; Superbullet Studios; and Ash Games Studio, which shipped its first title in 2025.
MBC Group, the Saudi-headquartered media company, also entered the sector in September 2026 with MBC Game Studio, which is developing 1001 Threads of Mizan, an Arabian fantasy action-adventure for PC and consoles.
New studios are also coming directly out of the funding ecosystem. Exel by Merak, the gaming accelerator born from Merak Capital's $80 million gaming fund, deployed $5.1m across 17 startups in its first cohort, each receiving $300,000 in equity funding. It has since become the first gaming accelerator to join the Riyadh Creative District.
Saudi Arabia remains the only country in the region with a Vision 2030 games strategy backed by capital already deployed and institutions already in place. The question is whether the domestic studio count can reach 250 before the deadline.
For now, you can browse Saudi studios in the IsaKaba Studios Directory.
