NEOM has selected five Saudi game studios to receive funding under its flagship Level Up accelerator, marking the programme’s largest cycle to date. The announcement follows an initial mentorship phase that supported 18 studios, making this the most expansive iteration since the accelerator’s launch.
The five studios advancing to the funded phase are Aiqona Productions, Fourcast Studio, Makera, OFF BOX Studios, and Phys. Each will receive financial support, seven months of intensive mentorship totalling 600 hours per studio, and access to NEOM’s global Publisher Partner Network, which includes UK-based publisher Kwalee and MENA’s leading mobile games publisher Tamatem Games.
Level Up is driven by NEOM Gaming and is the Kingdom’s longest-running gaming accelerator. It is a core pillar of Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming & Esports Strategy under Vision 2030, with the sector projected to contribute more than SAR 50 billion ($13.33 billion) to national GDP by 2030. The programme is designed to nurture and scale Saudi game startups through tailored support that addresses the unique challenges of building sustainable studios.
Following a competitive first phase that delivered mentorship across a wide range of business and creative disciplines, the strongest five studios were selected for the next stage. These studios represent a diverse cross-section of the Kingdom’s emerging gaming talent:
- Aiqona Productions blends animation, storytelling, and interactive design to craft immersive experiences.
- Fourcast Studio is developing a social PC multiplayer game with unique mechanics, positioning itself as a leader in Saudi indie gaming.
- Makera focuses on user-generated content, empowering communities to shape their own gaming experiences.
- OFF BOX Studios is building innovative and immersive titles as an emerging Saudi developer.
- Phys creates high-quality games that combine technology, design, and physical movement for children.
Toby Evan-Jones, Executive Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM, said the accelerator has been instrumental in supporting Saudi Arabia’s first generation of game developers through pre-seed funding and mentorship. He noted that the latest cycle reflects NEOM’s commitment to empowering studios with fresh ideas and building globally competitive businesses in line with Vision 2030.
Sultan Alobaishi from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology described Level Up as a pillar of the national gaming ecosystem, creating a seamless pipeline from incubation to global competitiveness. Since 2023, the programme has enabled Saudi startups to win awards, attract investment, and emerge as sustainable companies.
To date, Level Up has helped create more than 170 jobs, achieved 100 percent portfolio survivability, and supported significant growth among participating studios. Alumni include Fahy Studio, which secured the first-ever international publishing deal for a Saudi game developer with Kwalee and raised $1.75 million from Impact46 and Merak Capital. Other graduates, Starvania Studio and Majestic Mind Games, won “Best Games Startup” at the MENA Games Industry Awards in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
The latest cohort reinforces Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build a globally relevant gaming industry, positioning local studios to compete on the world stage while contributing to the Kingdom’s digital economy.
