Saudi Arabia will host Kingdom of Gaming (KoG), a gaming industry investment and business event, for the first time this December in Riyadh. Savvy Games Group, under the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Ubisoft and Roblox, will participate as 'Global Gaming Leaders.' The event combines a business program featuring 200 investors and 500 studios with a consumer festival for general attendees. This move follows the hosting of esports tournaments and acquisitions of gaming companies, as Saudi Arabia now seeks to establish a hub for industry deals.
On the 21st, the organizers of KoG revealed the event overview and key participating companies. The event will take place from December 1 to 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center in Malham, Riyadh. Organizers expect an attendance scale of over 20,000 visitors, 500 studios and developers, 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and 200 investors. Decision-makers from development, publishing, technology, investment, government, and esports will gather to discuss partnerships, investment opportunities, and the future growth direction of the industry.
The three Global Gaming Leaders are Savvy Games Group, Ubisoft, and Roblox. Organizers plan to announce additional names prior to the December opening. Founding partners include Tuwaiq Academy, NEOM, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
PUBG Mobile, Unreal Engine, Tencent Cloud, Impact46, and Merak Capital have also confirmed their participation. They will showcase know-how and hands-on content in game development, technology, investment, and talent cultivation.
Savvy Games Group is an investment company established by the PIF for gaming and esports ventures. It launched ESL FACEIT Group by acquiring ESL and Faceit, and expanded its presence by acquiring mobile game developer Scopely. Saudi Arabia has hosted the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh since 2024, and a consortium led by the PIF announced the acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA).
By adding a platform where game companies and investors can directly negotiate deals, Saudi Arabia will become a market with capital, major events, and distribution channels all in place. With PUBG Mobile—built on KRAFTON's IP—on the participant list, Korean game developers considering expansion into the Middle East or seeking local investment gain a new option at the end of the year.
Amr Sager, Chief of Staff of Savvy Games Group, stated, "Saudi Arabia is rapidly establishing itself as a global hub for gaming and esports and an industrial ecosystem for long-term growth. Bringing industry leaders, investment and technology partners, and the gaming community to Riyadh will help create future collaborations and sustainable opportunities."
During the event, over 200 speakers will take the stage across four stages to present on investment, publishing, game development, emerging technologies, talent, and esports. Speakers include Sir Ian Livingstone, Co-Founder and General Partner at Hiro Capital; Julien Merceron, CTO of Bandai Namco Studios and Delphi Interactive; Saifi Ismail, President of Yalla Group (Head of RHQ); Riley Russell, Head of US Studio at Kojima Productions; and Omer Faruk Gungor, Studio Director at Motion Blur Game Studio.
Discussion topics will include game investment and shifts in ownership structures, game creation using AI, ecosystem building, talent cultivation, and original IP growth. Dedicated programs will take place across the Main Stage, Investor & Startup Stage, and KoG Academy. Practical workshops, training, networking, investor meetings, and executive roundtables will also be hosted.
The KoG Academy will provide emerging talent with hands-on learning and growth opportunities through technical and game creation training. Creators participating in the 'Made in the Kingdom' program, supported by Unreal Engine, can develop projects and showcase them on-site at the event.
PUBG Mobile will participate in KoG spotlighting its creator ecosystem, 'World of Wonder' (WOW). Content created by Saudi student creators will be showcased at the exhibition booth, with detailed information to be released before the event. This participation extends existing student creator collaborations that support local emerging talent in developing and presenting ideas through game creation and user-generated content (UGC).
Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President at Tahaluf, stated, "The gaming industry has grown into one of the most creative and commercial sectors in the world, yet platforms that bring the entire ecosystem together in one place are rare. KoG was created to connect the people who decide investments, develop games, build technologies, and create new business opportunities. The goal is to make Riyadh the place where the global gaming industry meets to do business."
Alongside its business and investment programs, KoG will host a consumer festival for Saudi gamers. Attendees can experience gaming content over the three days, while global companies can connect directly with the Middle East's vast player base.
The event will be co-located with the cybersecurity event Black Hat MEA. Both events will take place from December 1 to 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center in Malham.
