Saudi Arabia Ranks Second in Global Gaming Time Spent
In a groundbreaking report, Saudi Arabia has clinched the second-highest global ranking for average daily time spent playing video games. This signals a major shift in leisure activities within the Kingdom.
According to the US-based online gaming platform Mobile Premier League, gaming culture is on the rise in Saudi Arabia, with over half of the population actively participating in video games.
This trend aligns with Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to boost job creation and contribute $13 billion to the country’s gross domestic product.
An expert at MPL highlighted the surge in gaming content creators and streamers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, leading to increased engagement within the Saudi gaming community.
The recent victory of Kingdom’s Team Falcons at the Esports World Cup, claiming the Call of Duty: Warzone championship in Riyadh on July 3, has further solidified the nation’s presence in the esports scene.
The local favorites, Shifty, Soka, and Biffle, emerged victorious in the grand final with a stellar performance, earning a prize of $200,000.
In addition, there is a growing interest in virtual reality gaming driven by technological advancements, accompanied by a rise in Arabic-language content tailored to cater to local audiences.
Egypt currently holds the top spot in gaming culture, experiencing rapid growth due to a burgeoning middle class and increased internet accessibility.
Popular game genres in the region include first-person shooters, sports games like FIFA Soccer, and multiplayer online battle arena games such as Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBG).
The report also predicts an increase in Egypt’s gaming population as more culturally relevant content is developed.
Recently, the Esports World Cup launched featuring a cross-game format with 22 competitions across 21 premier titles. The event boasts a record-breaking prize pool of $60 million, the largest in the history of the sport.
During a press conference on July 2, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, expressed optimism that the event would elevate the status of esports in the country.