Latest news with #AuntFatima
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Aunt Fatima': Saudi horror game brings Gulf folklore to global fear fans
The eerie interiors in Aunt Fatima draw heavily from Gulf culture, replicating elements like incense burners, old telephones, and vintage decor from real Saudi homes/Image: Internet The Gulf is rich with folk tales, some filled with bravery and hardship, others drenched in fear. Saudi YouTuber and indie developer Abdulla Al Hamad turned to the terrifying end of that spectrum for inspiration for his first-person horror game, Aunt Fatima . The game draws from the Emirati jinn legend of Umm Al Duwais , a supernatural entity that lures and kills weak-willed men. In Aunt Fatima , players enter an empty home haunted by a similar malevolent being. Once inside, they must solve puzzles while evading the creature that lurks in the shadows. Al Hamad says he was intrigued by people's obsession with fear. 'I realised people genuinely enjoy being scared—it's fun for them,' he told local news outlet The National . 'I wanted to create something simple but effective. Horror games don't require massive development, they require just five or six core mechanics. The rest is all about creativity in the story.' About the Game Launched in October 2024, Aunt Fatima quickly gained traction as regional content creators showcased their playthroughs. It has since reached audiences in East Asia and Turkey, cultures that Al Hamad says share similar folklore roots. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cervecería Nacional CFD: Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo solo $100 Empieza a invertir hoy Empieza ahora Undo Played in first-person, the game immerses players into the shoes of the protagonist exploring what initially seems to be a deserted house. But it becomes clear something sinister is watching. Players must solve puzzles and navigate the space while avoiding the wrath of the ghostly Aunt Fatima. While comparisons have been made to Resident Evil 7 and Hideo Kojima's P.T. , Al Hamad says those weren't direct influences. 'I scare easily, I don't even watch horror films,' he laughs. 'But somehow, I ended up making a horror game.' Instead, his true inspiration came from his own surroundings. He based the haunted house in the game on his grandfather's home and also visited abandoned areas in Al Khobar, which locals claim are haunted. 'For example, the clock that chimes every quarter hour? That's from my grandfather's house. The telephone, rugs, bed, and lamps all of them are real details I grew up with,' he said. That authenticity gives Aunt Fatima a distinct regional identity. One scene even features a mubkhar (incense burner) on a table, filling the house with aromatic smoke which is an iconic feature in Gulf households. Despite being a solo project, Aunt Fatima includes over an hour of gameplay and is powered by Nvidia's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) system. The AI-powered rendering enhances visuals without sacrificing performance, giving the game a polished feel that rivals major studio titles. 'To make a horror game work, you need quick reaction time, and DLSS really made that possible,' Al Hamad said. 'Seeing Aunt Fatima listed on Nvidia's site next to God of War and Marvel Rivals made me incredibly proud.' With Gulf folklore and nostalgic authenticity woven into every shadowed corner, Aunt Fatima is setting a new standard for regional horror games and is gaining international recognition while doing it.
The National
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Saudi horror game Aunt Fatima uses Gulf folklore to deliver bone-chilling experience
The Gulf is rich in folk tales. Some speak of bravery and adventure, while other tell stories of hardship and turmoil. For Saudi YouTuber Abdulla Al Hamad, it was the scary folk tales that drew him when he was looking for inspiration for his first-person horror game, Aunt Fatima. Adapted from an Emirati jinn story about an entity called Umm Al Duwais that ensnares weak men to their death, the game follows a being inhabiting an empty house that stalks anyone who enters. Al Hamad says he was pushed to create a horror game when he realised how much people like the genre. 'I realised people genuinely enjoy being scared – it's fun for them,' he tells The National. He also wanted to create something simple yet effective, he adds. 'The games don't require loads of development. You only need to develop about five or six things, really simple stuff, and the rest is all about creativity in the story.' Since its launch in October 2024, Aunt Fatima has grown in popularity as more regional YouTubers began playing it on their channels. Al Hamad is also encouraged by feedback he's received from gamers in other parts of the world. 'When YouTubers picked it up, that's when things took off, horror is perfect content for creators,' he says Al Hamad. 'I discovered people were playing the game in East Asia and Turkey – we have similar cultures when it comes to folklore.' The game is played in first person, meaning the gamer is the eyes and ears of the main character. Upon entering what looks like an abandoned house, it quickly becomes clear that someone, or something, is lurking – watching every movement and reacting. The character is then tasked with solving puzzles around the house while also evading capture, and certain death, from the malevolent being known as Aunt Fatima. Some who play might be reminded of Resident Evil 7 or Hideo Kojima 's P.T., but despite the parallels, Al Hamad says those popular games were not on his mind while creating the game. 'I did play P.T. back when it first came out, but honestly, no – I wouldn't say it was an influence. I scare easily, and I don't like horror games at all. I don't even watch horror films. But somehow, I ended up making a horror game.' His main objective was to make a game that drew from the Gulf's culture, and paid tribute to it. He even went to a delipidated area in his city Al Khobar, which was believed by the locals to be haunted. His grandfather's house also served as the blueprint for the haunted house in the game. 'For example, you might notice the clock in the house chimes every quarter of an hour – that's directly inspired by my grandfather's house, which had a clock that did exactly that,' Al Hamad says. 'Or the old telephone, that's another thing that still exists. The rugs, the bed, the lamp, the light switch – all these little details are things I grew up with. I visited these places again just to recapture the feel.' Those details are instantly noticeable when playing Aunt Fatima. At one point, players come across a table with a mubkhar on top of it, bellowing incense smoke in the house, something that can be seen in most homes across the Gulf. Despite being developed and published by one person, Aunt Fatima is no small game. It clocks in at more than an hour of gameplay and uses Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling system, or DLSS, to enhance its capabilities. DLSS is AI-powered technology that renders fewer pixels and then upscales the image to a higher resolution, allowing a smaller-budget game like Aunt Fatima to look and feel like a game developed by major studios. The use of DLSS has allowed gamers to enjoy it exactly how Al Hamad envisioned it and has also allowed it to be highlighted by chips maker Nvidia alongside some of the biggest video games in the industry. 'To make a horror game work, you need quick reaction time, and that's why DLSS made a real difference,' he says. 'Seeing Aunt Fatima listed on Nvidia's website alongside games like Marvel Rivals and God of War made me incredibly proud.'
Broadcast Pro
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi indie horror ‘Aunt Fatima' pushes boundaries with Nvidia technologies
The game topped YouTube Gaming's trending list and won the awards for Best Saudi Game and Best Arab Game. Nvidia's cutting-edge RTX platform is transforming the landscape of game development in the Middle East, with the Saudi indie horror title Aunt Fatima emerging as a standout example. Developed entirely by solo creator Abdullah Al Hamad, the first-person psychological horror game has captivated audiences with its eerie atmosphere and deep cultural roots, all powered by Nvidia's advanced gaming technologies. Aunt Fatima immerses players in a chilling journey through a traditional Saudi household reimagined as a psychological trap. The game's narrative and visual design have propelled it to the top of YouTube Gaming's trending list and earned it accolades for Best Saudi Game and Best Arab Game. Its success is particularly notable given that it was built in just six months by Al Hamad, who credits Nvidia's RTX tools, especially DLSS, for enabling high performance and visual polish across a wide range of devices. 'I developed this game within six months. Even with that timeframe, I made sure that every puzzle, brick and horror element is thoughtfully designed,' said Abdullah Al Hamad. 'As a gamer and content creator, I designed Aunt Fatima to provide a thrilling experience from start to finish. Thanks to DLSS, I was able to create a visually stunning game that runs smoothly across a wide range of systems.' The game highlights several of Nvidia's latest innovations, particularly those exclusive to the GeForce RTX 50 Series. DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation enhances performance by intelligently rendering frames using AI, while Ray Reconstruction refines lighting and shadow realism. RTX Video Super Resolution ensures crisp, detailed visuals without overburdening the GPU. Al Hamad's journey into game development began with designing a simple game menu and quickly evolved into a full-scale project. His background in content creation gave him the storytelling and visual sensibilities needed to shape a compelling horror experience. He also undertook extensive field visits to traditional Saudi homes to authentically replicate environments, blending cultural textures with the game's unsettling gameplay. His creative process and the role Nvidia's tools played in it were discussed in an exclusive interview with tech influencer Cambotar, offering deeper insights into the game's evolution from concept to execution. The success of Aunt Fatima also led to Al Hamad's invitation to Nvidia Studio Nights III in Riyadh, marking his debut within the MENA game development community. The positive response at the event affirmed the game's regional impact, with techniques from the game now being taught in local game development academies. 'The reaction to the game at Studio Nights III was incredible,' he shared. 'It opened doors I never expected. Now, the techniques I used in the game are being taught in game development academies in the region.' Although no sequel to Aunt Fatima has been officially confirmed, Al Hamad hinted at new projects on the horizon, aimed at continuing to amplify Arab voices in the global gaming industry.
Web Release
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Saudi Indie Horror Hit Aunt Fatima Pushes Boundaries with NVIDIA RTX Technologies
NVIDIA's RTX Platform is redefining the future of game development in the Middle East. In the case of the Saudi indie game Aunt Fatima, RTX technologies helped bring the terrifying game to life, offering a unique horror experience rooted in local folklore. Created single-handedly by Saudi creator Abdullah Al Hamad, Aunt Fatima is a first-person psychological horror game that transforms a traditional Saudi household into a nightmarish trap. The game topped YouTube Gaming's trending list and won the awards for Best Saudi Game and Best Arab Game. It also shocked players with its chilling narrative and immersive mechanics, all of which were built by a solo developer who leveraged NVIDIA's most advanced tools to fully realize his vision. 'I developed this game within six months. Even with that timeframe, I made sure that every puzzle, brick and horror element is thoughtfully designed,' said Abdullah Al Hamad. 'As a gamer and content creator, I designed Aunt Fatima to provide a thrilling experience from start to finish. Thanks to DLSS, I was able to create a visually stunning game that runs smoothly across a wide range of systems.' A Technical Masterclass Powered by RTX 50 Series Aunt Fatima cleverly blends gripping horror with cultural depth, serving as a great showcase of NVIDIA's latest technologies, especially those exclusive to the GeForce RTX™ 50 Series. The game utilizes DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation to boost performance on mid-range hardware by intelligently generating frames and improving image quality through AI. There's also Ray Reconstruction that enhances lighting and shadows and RTX Video Super Resolution that ensures cleaner, sharper visuals without straining the GPU. From Content Creator to Acclaimed Game Developer Abdullah Al Hamad's journey started with designing a main menu inspired by video games, which led him into a deep dive into game development tutorials. His background in content creation provided him with the visual eye and narrative flair to craft something unique, using NVIDIA's tools to give him the technical firepower to match his vision. To authentically represent Saudi culture, Abdullah conducted field visits to traditional homes to inspire the game's environments, fusing real-world textures with terrifying gameplay scenarios. Abdullah shared more about his development journey, cultural inspirations, and technical process in a recent exclusive video interview with Tech Influencer Cambotar. In the conversation, he breaks down key moments in the game's creation, from concept to execution. Studio Nights Spark New Connections After Aunt Fatima started gaining traction online, Abdullah was invited to NVIDIA Studio Nights III in Riyadh, his first interaction with the wider MENA game development community. The event validated the game's impact on developers and publishers. 'The reaction to the game at Studio Nights III was incredible,' he shared. 'It opened doors I never expected. Now, the techniques I used in the game are being taught in game development academies in the region.' Empowering MENA Game Developers Abdullah encourages fellow independent developers in the region to explore NVIDIA RTX tools, emphasizing their accessibility and high impact, especially for teams with limited resources. 'If your game relies on visual fidelity, there's no reason not to use DLSS. It balances performance and quality in a way that's perfect for today's diverse hardware market, and it's free to implement.' While a sequel to Aunt Fatima remains unconfirmed, Abdullah hinted at multiple projects in the pipeline that promise to further elevate Arab voices in the global gaming industry.
Syyaha
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Syyaha
Saudi Indie Horror Hit Aunt Fatima Pushes Boundaries with NVIDIA RTX Technologies
NVIDIA's RTX Platform is redefining the future of game development in the Middle East. In the case of the Saudi indie game Aunt Fatima, RTX technologies helped bring the terrifying game to life, offering a unique horror experience rooted in local single-handedly by Saudi creator Abdullah Al Hamad, Aunt Fatima is a first-person psychological horror game that transforms a traditional Saudi household into a nightmarish trap. The game topped YouTube Gaming's trending list and won the awards for Best Saudi Game and Best Arab Game. It also shocked players with its chilling narrative and immersive mechanics, all of which were built by a solo developer who leveraged NVIDIA's most advanced tools to fully realize his vision.'I developed this game within six months. Even with that timeframe, I made sure that every puzzle, brick and horror element is thoughtfully designed,' said Abdullah Al Hamad. 'As a gamer and content creator, I designed Aunt Fatima to provide a thrilling experience from start to finish. Thanks to DLSS, I was able to create a visually stunning game that runs smoothly across a wide range of systems.'A Technical Masterclass Powered by RTX 50 SeriesAunt Fatima cleverly blends gripping horror with cultural depth, serving as a great showcase of NVIDIA's latest technologies, especially those exclusive to the GeForce RTX™ 50 Series. The game utilizes DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation to boost performance on mid-range hardware by intelligently generating frames and improving image quality through AI. There's also Ray Reconstruction that enhances lighting and shadows and RTX Video Super Resolution that ensures cleaner, sharper visuals without straining the Content Creator to Acclaimed Game DeveloperAbdullah Al Hamad's journey started with designing a main menu inspired by video games, which led him into a deep dive into game development tutorials. His background in content creation provided him with the visual eye and narrative flair to craft something unique, using NVIDIA's tools to give him the technical firepower to match his authentically represent Saudi culture, Abdullah conducted field visits to traditional homes to inspire the game's environments, fusing real-world textures with terrifying gameplay shared more about his development journey, cultural inspirations, and technical process in a recent exclusive video interview with Tech Influencer Cambotar. In the conversation, he breaks down key moments in the game's creation, from concept to Nights Spark New ConnectionsAfter Aunt Fatima started gaining traction online, Abdullah was invited to NVIDIA Studio Nights III in Riyadh, his first interaction with the wider MENA game development community. The event validated the game's impact on developers and publishers.'The reaction to the game at Studio Nights III was incredible,' he shared. 'It opened doors I never expected. Now, the techniques I used in the game are being taught in game development academies in the region.'Empowering MENA Game DevelopersAbdullah encourages fellow independent developers in the region to explore NVIDIA RTX tools, emphasizing their accessibility and high impact, especially for teams with limited resources.'If your game relies on visual fidelity, there's no reason not to use DLSS. It balances performance and quality in a way that's perfect for today's diverse hardware market, and it's free to implement.' While a sequel to Aunt Fatima remains unconfirmed, Abdullah hinted at multiple projects in the pipeline that promise to further elevate Arab voices in the global gaming industry.
