The company has announced that five Saudi game studios have been selected to receive funding under its flagship Level Up gaming accelerator, marking the programme’s largest cycle to date.
Following an initial mentorship phase supporting a further 18 studios, the latest cohort represents the most expansive Level Up cycle yet, according to NEOM. The accelerator is designed to support early-stage studios with funding, mentorship and access to international publishing networks.
After a competitive first phase that saw more than 23 studios receive mentorship across a range of topics, five studios were selected to progress to the funded stage.
Each will receive funding to accelerate product launch, seven additional months of mentorship totalling 600 hours per studio and access to NEOM’s global Publisher Partner Network. The network includes UK-based games publisher Kwalee and Tamatem Games.
The five Saudi studios selected are:
- Aiqona Productions: A creative studio blending animation, storytelling and interactive game design
- Fourcast Studio: An indie developer working on a social PC multiplayer game with unique gameplay mechanics
- Makera: A user-generated content studio enabling communities to create and shape gaming experiences
- OFF BOX Studios: An emerging developer focused on innovative and immersive games
- Phys: A studio specialising in technology-driven games that encourage movement and exercise among children
Executive Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM, Toby Evan-Jones, said: “Over the past three years, NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator has been instrumental in supporting Saudi Arabia’s first generation of game developers through pre-seed funding and mentorship. This latest cycle builds on that success and reflects NEOM’s commitment to empowering talented studios who bring fresh thinking to the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem.”
