Gaming tournament platform GameCentric has partnered with distributed GPU network Aethir to help it build out its web3 gaming presence.

Based in Dubai, GameCentric’s community platform claims 160,000 active users across over 50 web2 games but is pushing to support hundreds of blockchain games as it plans to launch its own GCVC token.

It hopes integrating with Aethir will enable it to launch its own non-custodial wallet and an enhanced marketplace providing gamers with a seamless experience across both web2 and web3.

In turn, GameCentric’s MENA and Indian audience will provide Aethir with more regional distribution as it builds on the launch of its Aethir Edge cloud network hardware.

“We are thrilled to partner with Aethir at such a critical stage of our web3 expansion. This partnership not only strengthens our commitment to providing a seamless web3 gaming experience but also accelerates our vision of creating a fully decentralized ecosystem where players can own, trade, and monetize their in-game assets,” commented GameCentric’s CEO Saad Khan.

Aethir’s CRO Paul Thind added, “Building scalable and efficient infrastructure is crucial for companies competing in the gaming industry. By integrating with our decentralized cloud infrastructure, GameCentric will be able to set new standards in secure and seamless gaming experiences, meeting the demands of an expanding community of players.”

Find out more at the GameCentric website.

The leading international games industry conference, Pocket Gamer Connects, returns to the Middle East.

Over 700 delegates will gather at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in Sweimeh, Jordan, on 9th-10th November 2024.

Attendees from all over the globe will get a chance to hear from 100 of the industry’s leading experts, sharing insight into the growing MENA games industry, and more generally mobile games, web3 games, PC, console, AI and XR.

Among other business opportunities, attendees will benefit from the MeetToMatch meeting platform, the Very Big Indie Pitch competition and Investor Connector sessions. There will also be an expo area with new games and services on show. 

In addition, the winners of the prestigious Jordan Games Awards will be revealed during an exclusive event held as part of the conference on Sunday 10th November.

Open call for speakers

We’re now looking for additional speakers and panellists who want to join us. Do you have particular knowledge to share in a solo presentation or a desire to discuss web3 games with other experts in the field? 

Please fill out this form to submit your application to speak at our forthcoming PG Connects events, or email our events content coordinator Charlie Scowen directly >> [email protected]

Would you like to attend the event for yourself? Don’t miss out on our current early bird price tier >>

Finally, stay up-to-date with all our forthcoming PG Connects events here >>

Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan returns on November 9th and 10th, 2024, offering you a chance to gain insights into the world’s fastest-growing games market: MENA.

You can secure your Super Early Bird ticket today – saving you up to £300 – to guarantee your spot and discover what makes this such a vibrant video games hub and network with the global industry.

The growth and potential of MENA

The MENA region continues to be the fastest-growing market in games, and Jordan is a fantastic entry point to it. With a young, well-educated population and welcoming tourist culture, as well as proximity to other territories in the region, along with significant government investment, Jordan is the perfect place to take your first steps in MENA.

According to a report by the Market Studies Unit of the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (Intaj), total spending on digital games in Jordan reached $82.5 million in 2023. A total of $6.6 million was spent on in-game advertising, with mobile games dominating at $45 million and online games contributing $6.5 million. 

The MENA-3 (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt) video games market is set to grow 8.2% in 2024 to $2.1 billion in revenue, according to Niko Partners. It’s forecast to reach $2.9 billion by 2028.

This is in line with Newzoo’s latest Games Report and Forecast. The MENA region overall experienced a 4.7% increase in revenue year-over-year to $7.1 billion in 2023, representing 4.7% of global games revenue.

What can you expect at PG Connects Jordan 2024? 

From insightful keynote speeches and interactive panel discussions to hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, the event promises to be a hub of innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Gain valuable insights from industry veterans, discover the latest games industry trends, and make connections that could propel your business to new heights.

Registered attendees will be able to take advantage of our exclusive networking MeetToMatch platform to find business partners. Enjoy networking opportunities like the Very Big Indie Pitch, Investor Connector session and Publisher SpeedMatch.

For indie developers, there is a dedicated expo area, The Big Indie Zone to showcase your games to fellow attendees. This zone is perfect for investors in search of their next focus and publishers looking for new talent.

PLUS! Don’t miss out on our EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION for indie developers to win a FREE TICKET or EXPO Table (including 2x tickets) with which to attend the conference. To enter, all you have to do is fill out a simple form and we’ll do the rest. Enter the competition here.

Seize the benefits of our Super Early Bird offer and secure your spot at the PG Connects Jordan conference this November with the best possible value ticket.

Don’t miss out on savings of up to £300 – book your tickets before June 28th. Prices will increase after this date, so act now to ensure you don’t miss the chance to grab your tickets at their lowest price! Tickets are available via the official event website. 

Be part of this world-class experience

Pocket Gamer Connects events offer an unparalleled platform to share your expertise with the games community worldwide.

We invite renowned game makers, investors, and industry leaders to lead sessions at our upcoming shows.

If you have industry insights to offer and are excited about presenting at our conferences, please fill out our speaker submission form here. If you have further questions, you can contact Charlie Scowen, [email protected]. 

Sponsorship opportunities

If you’re interested in showcasing your brand to the global mobile games industry, explore our diverse sponsorship opportunities or discuss other engagement avenues with our B2B sales team. For more information, please contact Lisa Bisset at [email protected] or Chris James at [email protected].

The winners of the MENA Games Industry Awards 2024 have been revealed today at the Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by Pocket Gamer Connects.

In celebration of the talented games companies across the Middle East and North Africa, the MENA Games Industry Awards highlights the top games, developers and service providers, whose work has impacted players worldwide. The winners have been selected by a panel of 80 industry experts.

You can view the full list of winners below.

DUBAI GAMES STAR

Winner: Yalla Group

Honourable mentions: DMCC Gaming Centre, Sawa Group

BEST GAMES STARTUP

Winner: Starvania

Honourable mentions: Nomadroid, Yalla Game

BEST GAME INNOVATION HUB/DISTRICT

Winner: DMCC

Honourable mentions: AD Gaming, NEOM

BEST TOOL & SERVICE PROVIDER

Winner: Xsolla

Honourable mentions: Audiomob, Tamatem Plus (Tamatem)

MOST INNOVATIVE GAME

Winner: AVO Escape Space (Game Cooks)

Honourable mentions: Fateel (Evolite Studio), The True Persian Love Story (Emeraldz Studio)

BEST ARABIC LOCALISATION

Winner: Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (Ubisoft)

Honourable mentions: Good Pizza, Great Pizza (TapBlaze) Good Pizza, Great Pizza (TapBlaze), HAWKED (The 4 Winds Entertainment)

BEST IN ESPORTS (SERVICE)

Winner: True Gamers

Honourable mentions: Power League Gaming, The Esports & Gaming Agency

BEST IN ESPORTS (TEAM)

Winner: Falcons Esports

Honourable mentions: Geekay Esports, NASR ESPORTS

BEST WEB3 GAMING (Sponsored by BlockchainGamer.biz)

Winner: WEMIX (Wemade)

Honourable mentions: Oneness Labs, Yayy

INVESTOR OF THE YEAR

Winner: Savvy Games Group

Honourable mentions: Level Up (NEOM), Shorooq Partners

BEST DEVELOPER (Sponsored by ID@Xbox)

Winner: Mad Hook

Honourable mentions: Jawaker, UMX Studio

BEST PUBLISHER

Winner: Tamatem Games

Honourable mentions: Babil Games, MBC Group

MENA GAME OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by Xsolla Funding)

Winner: DC Heroes & Villains (Jam City/Sandsoft)

Honourable mentions: AVO Escape Space (Game Cooks), Hunt (NewGen Studio)

MENA MARKET LEGEND (Sponsored by PocketGamer.biz)

Winner: Nour Khrais (Maysalward)

Congratulations to all the winners, honourable mentions and finalists at this year’s MENA Games Industry Awards.