Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
The Esports World Cup 2026 will feature a record $75m prize pool, with $30m dedicated to the Club Championship and $7m for the winning Club. Hosted in Riyadh over seven weeks, the event will unite 2,000 players across 24 titles, cementing Saudi Arabia’s role in global esports.
Robi Axiata has partnered with PUBG Mobile’s Rising Star tournament to engage Bangladesh’s gaming community and showcase Robi Supernet’s low-latency performance. The nationwide competition culminated in a Dhaka finale, positioning gaming as a real-world use case for demonstrating network quality and digital lifestyle alignment.
Halal Games has launched in Egypt as a values-driven studio building original PC games without gambling mechanics or explicit content. With a small distributed team, the developer is working on a horror title focused on immersive storytelling, aiming to prove that ethical design and high-quality gameplay can coexist.
Lenovo and Enactus Morocco are hosting a national gaming hackathon in Casablanca to encourage youth to develop game-based solutions for education and social impact. The initiative taps into Morocco’s rapidly growing gaming sector, positioning video games as tools for innovation, skills development, and social entrepreneurship.
Tunisia has announced that the Global Game Jam 2026 will be held from January 26 to February 1, highlighting Africa’s emerging talent in gaming and digital creativity. Organized by Makers Factory and partners, the event invites developers and artists to create new games within 48 hours, reinforcing Tunisia’s leadership in Africa’s tech innovation scene.
LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship has joined HUM TV and national partners to lead the CEGA initiative, building Pakistan’s gaming and animation ecosystem through training, incubation, and innovation under the Ministry of IT & Telecom.
Kammelna’s $53M funding marks a major boost for Saudi Arabia’s gaming ambitions. With over 6M downloads and 1M monthly users, the studio will now scale its culturally inspired portfolio under Vision 2030, as Impact46 positions it as a flagship for Saudi talent, digital culture, and global expansion.
Impact46 invests $6.6M in diverse MENA gaming studios, supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision to become a global gaming leader through culturally rich and innovative digital content.
Spotify partners with Carry1st to provide music sponsorship for the Africa Cup 2025 CODM tournament, enhancing fan experience with live performances and curated playlists ahead of the Lagos finals.
Zain Iraq has partnered with KRAFTON Europe to empower Iraqi youth and boost the country’s gaming and esports scene. The MoU will launch initiatives under the Zain esports brand, bring KRAFTON’s premium gaming portfolio to Iraq, and organize specialized events tailored to local esports enthusiasts.