Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global gaming powerhouse were once again on display as the Global Games Show Riyadh 2026 brought together thousands of industry leaders to discuss the technologies, investments and trends shaping the future of interactive entertainment.
Held in Riyadh on 29–30 June, the event attracted game developers, publishers, esports organisations, investors, technology providers and policymakers from more than 80 countries. While gaming conferences often focus on upcoming releases, this year’s discussions centred on a broader transformation – how artificial intelligence, mobile gaming, cloud infrastructure and Web3 technologies are redefining the industry.
For Saudi Arabia, the event represents another milestone in the Kingdom’s long-term strategy to establish itself as one of the world’s leading destinations for gaming, esports and digital entertainment under Vision 2030.
Gaming Is Becoming A Strategic Industry
Gaming is no longer viewed simply as entertainment. Today, it sits at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, media, sport and digital economies. Saudi Arabia has recognised this shift and has invested heavily in creating an ecosystem capable of attracting international developers, publishers and technology companies.
The Global Games Show demonstrated that strategy in action.
Organised by VAP Group and powered by Times of Games, the conference was held alongside the Global AI Show Riyadh and Global Blockchain Show Riyadh, highlighting how gaming increasingly overlaps with AI, blockchain and emerging digital technologies. According to the organisers, the combined event welcomed 15,000+ registrations, 6,723 attendees, 100+ speakers, 100 exhibitors and delegates from more than 80 countries, with around 70% of attendees holding executive-level positions.
Mobile Gaming Is Driving The Next Wave Of Growth
One of the dominant themes throughout the conference was the continued rise of mobile gaming.
While consoles and PCs remain important, industry leaders agreed that smartphones have become the world’s largest gaming platform. Mobile-first ecosystems are opening gaming and esports to millions of new players, particularly across the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
Games such as PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang were highlighted as examples of how competitive gaming is becoming increasingly accessible without expensive hardware. For publishers, this creates opportunities to reach wider audiences while relying on cloud technology, LiveOps and AI-driven player engagement to keep communities active.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Game Development
Artificial intelligence featured prominently across the agenda. Rather than replacing creativity, AI is increasingly being used to enhance game development through procedural design, automated testing, LiveOps, player analytics and personalised gaming experiences.
Cloud gaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and AI-assisted development were all identified as technologies likely to shape the next generation of interactive entertainment. The discussion reflected a wider industry trend: successful games are becoming long-term services powered by continuous data analysis rather than one-time product launches.
Industry Leaders Shared Their Vision
The event featured an international lineup of speakers from gaming, sport, technology and global organisations.
Among the notable names were:
- Johnson Yeh, Founder & CEO of Ambrus Studio, who opened the conference with a keynote exploring immersive gaming experiences and the technologies pushing interactive entertainment beyond traditional screens.
- Virginia Villar Arribas, Director of the Private Sector Partnerships Service at the UN World Food Programme (WFP), who discussed how gaming can support education, awareness and humanitarian initiatives.
- Nayef BinHumaid, Chairman of the Board at the Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation.
- Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com.
- Hassan Yusuf, Head of Partnerships at the Real Madrid Foundation – Education Football Program powered by Riyadh Schools.
- Kanessa Muluneh, CEO of Rise of Fearless.
- Yasmina Kazitani, President of the Blockchain Game Alliance.
Another speaker, Charity Joy, CEO of Mirai, praised Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing developer community, noting that the Kingdom’s combination of ambition, creativity and investment is helping shape the future of global gaming.
Exhibitors Showcased The Breadth Of The Gaming Ecosystem
Beyond the conference sessions, the exhibition floor reflected just how diverse the modern gaming industry has become.
Notable exhibitors included:
- ClubMOS Technologies
- Cropr Digital
- Plotdex
- JPYR
- Arkonix
- TorusChain Association
- Smartflow
- The Loopcraft
- EGS
- Setup Master the Art of Gaming
- Venn Studio
The companies represented a wide range of technologies, from Web3 infrastructure and blockchain gaming to development tools, digital communities and gaming services, demonstrating how the industry now extends far beyond traditional game studios.
Digital Ownership Continues To Evolve
Another major topic was digital ownership.
Panels explored how blockchain technology is enabling new models of ownership, player-driven economies and digital assets. While the hype surrounding Web3 gaming has cooled compared with previous years, discussions suggested the technology is gradually finding more practical applications centred on player engagement and long-term monetisation rather than speculation alone.
Supporting The Next Generation Of Gaming Companies
One of the biggest announcements came from VAP Group, which unveiled VAP Ventures, a new initiative designed to support 100 startups by 2030.
The programme aims to connect founders with investors, strategic partners and international networks, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s wider ambition to become not only a destination for gaming events but also a launchpad for technology companies operating across AI, gaming and blockchain.
Commenting on the future of the industry, Vishal Parmar, Founder and CEO of VAP Group, said the next generation of gaming will be built by companies capable of combining technology, creativity and community – an ambition that aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s long-term digital transformation strategy.
Why It Matters For Saudi Arabia
The Global Games Show was more than another international conference.
It demonstrated how Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a serious player in the global gaming economy. Through Vision 2030, the Kingdom is investing across the entire value chain – from game development and esports to artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and startup funding.
For international gaming companies, Riyadh is rapidly becoming a gateway to one of the world’s fastest-growing digital entertainment markets.
For Saudi Arabia, it is another step towards becoming a global hub where gaming, technology and innovation increasingly converge.
