Latest news with #SavvyGamesGroup
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Saudi Arabia's Steer Studios chief on his video game company's global ambitions
Next month, Riyadh will host Esports World Cup, the biggest gaming tournament on earth. With an increased prize pool of $70 million, the event reinforces Saudi Arabia's ambitions when it comes to growing its gaming sector. Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in game development studios under its Savvy Games Group investment arm launched in 2022. One of the leading entities under that banner is Steer Studios. Having started operations three years ago, the studio has now released its first game, Grunt Rush, a mobile strategy game that offers players an engaging experience and updates. 'They presented a compelling vision to create a 360-degree gaming hub in Saudi Arabia," says chief executive Yannick Theler, a French gaming expert, who previously worked in China and Abu Dhabi for France's premier studio, Ubisoft. "After 20 years at Ubisoft, I decided it was time to take a leap of faith and start fresh." Theler tells The National that his mission was not simple, since he had to start a gaming studio from scratch. 'We started with a blank slate. No team and no structure. But my experience in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai helped me understand what to look for,' he adds. And while they did start from zero, it didn't take him long to realise that the expertise and work force was already there for him to hire from. After posting the first job listings, Steer Studios received more than 1,500 applications within the first hour. 'That was a huge sign of interest and potential,' Theler recalls. After hiring his team, Theler says they decided to produce a mobile game as most of their employees would be working on their first project and would need to learn along the way. 'Mobile allows for faster iteration, which is ideal for training," he says. Mobile gaming is the most popular form of gaming in Saudi Arabia. UK research firm YouGov found that about three quarters of users opt for mobile phones when gaming because they offer convenience and portability. Grunt Rush took a year to develop, from concept to publishing, with 20 people working on the game, half of whom are from Saudi Arabia. 'We hit 1.5 million downloads in the first three weeks,' he says of the game's release. 'Players have noticed and appreciated that the game doesn't overheat their devices." And while the game is produced and made by Saudi developers, it is primarily geared towards a global audience. Theler says their primary goal was to produce a game that was polished and delivered a high-quality experience. "Our team spent a lot of time optimising it," he says. "We'll be incorporating regional themes and events in future updates." Mobile games can keep growing in popularity if they can catch the attention of dedicated players who stick to the game. Theler says his studio is prepared to grow the team behind it to keep up with demand. 'If Grunt Rush continues to grow, we'll scale the team accordingly to produce more content and support ongoing development," he says. 'We're fully committed to the game and the original team is still involved.' He says he takes pride in a 'learning by doing' philosophy, an approach he learnt at Ubisoft. But he also says Saudi Arabia has taken great steps to ensure that new graduates have bigger and more substantial game development skills. One of these efforts is the Savvy Games Academy, which opened this year. Its purpose is to work with universities to create opportunities across age groups and introduce students to the gaming industry. 'We've also had internships at our studio for two years now. Structured curricula are being rolled out to give aspiring developers a clearer path.' After the launch of Grunt Rush, Theler says the studio has already begun onboarding new teams to work on a console game. 'We started with mobile for training and onboarding reasons. But now, we're building a console core team,' he adds. 'Our first console project kicks off this year. So, we'll soon be working on both mobile and console projects in parallel.' Gamers take pride in the fact that a game they play is produced in their country by their compatriots, he notes, adding: 'It creates a connection, especially when developers can share their work publicly and interact with the community."
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final
RIYADH: The ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 reaches a thrilling climax this Friday at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia's top Overwatch 2 teams are set to battle for regional supremacy and a place on the global stage. The high-stakes tournament will see Team Vision take on Al-Qadsiah in a best-of-five showdown, with the winner advancing to face reigning champions Twisted Minds in a best-of-seven grand final. With qualification for the Overwatch Champions Series and the Esports World Cup at stake, the event is being hailed as a defining moment for the Kingdom's esports scene. This year's ESL Saudi Challenge is playing a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's evolving esports ecosystem. More than just a tournament, it serves as a direct pathway to international competition while highlighting the rising caliber of local talent. Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, the world's leading esports and video game entertainment company, the tournament reflects the Kingdom's broader ambitions to become a global gaming hub. EFG was acquired in 2022 by Savvy Games Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, in a $1.5 billion deal aimed at accelerating the growth of esports in the region. The ESL Saudi Challenge is a key pillar in that strategy, with EFG also serving as the main operating partner for the Esports World Cup over the next five years. The group's involvement marks a long-term vision to build a world-class esports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and provide new opportunities for players, fans and creators alike. Viewers can tune in to the action live on ESL Arabia's official channels across X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. As anticipation builds for Friday's final, the event promises not only elite-level Overwatch 2 gameplay, but a powerful statement of intent from a nation rapidly becoming a leader in global esports.
Arab News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 offers Saudi teams shot at Esports World Cup glory
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's burgeoning esports scene takes another significant step forward as the ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 kicks off, spotlighting the Kingdom's top Overwatch 2 talent and offering a direct path to the Esports World Cup. Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, a Savvy Games Group company, the tournament features eight elite Saudi teams battling for a share of the $20,000 prize pool. But more than just the money is on the line — the winning team will earn a coveted spot in the Overwatch Champions Series, a premier international circuit that feeds into the EWC. 'The ESL Saudi Challenge is more than just a local tournament; it's a strategic platform that offers players a genuine opportunity to reach the global stage,' said Franck Guignery, senior vice president of Middle East and North Africa at ESL FACEIT Group. 'As an official operating partner of the EWC, ESL FACEIT Group is committed to building professional pathways and empowering local talent to represent Saudi Arabia in the international esports scene.' The initiative is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia's national strategy to develop a sustainable esports ecosystem and position the Kingdom as a global hub for competitive gaming. This year's tournament will culminate with the grand final on May 30 at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where the top three teams from the May 13–16 playoffs will compete live in front of a home crowd. With high stakes and international exposure on offer, the ESL Saudi Challenge has become a proving ground for players looking to make the leap from national heroes to global contenders.
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Spotify, EA Sports test in-game music integration in Saudi Arabia
LONDON: Spotify and EA Sports have launched a pilot project that allows players to link their Spotify accounts directly with the EA Sports FC 25 video game. The feature is being rolled out in Saudi Arabia and selected other markets. The project, which was announced on Thursday, enables Spotify Premium users to log in via a new tab in the main game menu and control music playback during gameplay, including during team selection or from the pause menu. The Swedish music platform said the partnership aimed at offering players more control over their in-game audio. It said: 'Long seen as the perfect companion to gaming, music boosts focus, amplifies adrenaline, and heightens the emotional highs of every match. 'Through this collaboration, players can now curate their perfect in-game soundtrack, listening to the artists they love.' Podcast access and curated playlists will also be available. The feature is currently accessible to Premium users playing EA Sports FC 25 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in Saudi Arabia and Australia. The Kingdom has become a growing market for gaming and electronic sports, driven by a young and tech-savvy population. Gaming now plays a prominent role in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 diversification strategy, with plans for the sector to contribute more than $13 billion to the economy and create tens of thousands of jobs, according to Savvy Games Group. Riyadh hosted the inaugural Esports World Cup last summer, a large-scale tournament featuring 23 events across major titles including Fortnite, Call of Duty, and EA Sports FC, with a record-setting prize pool of $62.5 million.
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Tencent-backed Hero Esports leverages AI in bid to become global leader
Hero Esports, a Chinese esports powerhouse backed by Tencent Holdings and Saudi Arabian video-gaming giant Savvy Games Group, is betting big on artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and become a global leader industry, the CEO said in an interview. Advertisement 'We are pilot-testing several AI models, including DeepSeek , in all aspects of the business,' said Danny Tang, co-founder and CEO of Hero Esports. The company is also adapting a local version of DeepSeek to analyse patents and historical contracts to identify areas that might 'require more attention', she said. The company's adoption of AI ties into China's efforts to dominate the global video-gaming arena. Over the past couple of decades, the sector has transformed into a cultural and economic juggernaut. Hero Esports co-founder and CEO Danny Tang. Photo: Handout Tang said one goal of AI adoption is to free up time for the team of around 1,200 to focus on more creative work. Hero Esports has developed its own AI toolkit to streamline various production workflows such as setting timelines, automating camera work and creating highlight reels. Advertisement
