Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, NEOM Partner To Support Gaming Startups In the Kingdom

Savvy Games Group, a Saudi Arabia-based gaming platform owned by the country's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, has signed a memorandum of understanding with NEOM, the Kingdom’s US$500 billion futuristic region under development in northwest Saudi Arabia, aimed at streamlining the transition of local gaming startups from early incubation to growth-stage acceleration. 

The agreement establishes a coordinated pathway between Savvy Games Group’s Nine66 Incubator Program, its Riyadh-based startup incubator focused on early-stage gaming studios, and NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator, ensuring that startups graduating from Nine66 can seamlessly progress into Level Up. By bringing the two programs into closer alignment, the partnership ensures founders benefit from uninterrupted access to training, resources, and mentorship, while reinforcing the pipeline of investable Saudi gaming studios. 

In a statement, Amr Sager, Group Chief of Staff at Savvy Games Group, said, “As the games industry continues to grow at a rapid pace in Saudi Arabia, there is an increasing number of programs and initiatives designed to help emerging studios and entrepreneurs to build, run, and scale their businesses. This momentum is encouraging, and the next step would be to create stronger synergy and alignment across these efforts, so that the journey is smoother and clearer for startups to identify and source the support they need. This is what our partnership with NEOM is really about, and we look forward to working with the team to continue empowering Saudi studios and game makers.” 

Toby Evan-Jones, Executive Director and Head of Gaming at NEOM, added, “NEOM Gaming is proud to play a role in nurturing the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem, in line with the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. From sparking interest within high schools, to investing into young gaming studios via the Level Up Accelerator, it's immensely satisfying to see the green shoots of a viable self-sustaining industry appear. We share a joint view, with Savvy Games Group, that increasing coordination around the startup journey shall benefit all parties, not least the young game makers which we support. We couldn’t be more excited about this alignment.” 

Savvy’s Nine66 Incubator Program supports early-stage studios by helping them validate game concepts, develop playable prototypes, and build the operational and technical foundations required for investor engagement. In doing so, the program prepares startups to progress into the next phase of development and scaling within the Kingdom’s gaming value chain. 

Meanwhile, NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator delivers funding and intensive mentorship to help studios transition into scalable, self-sustaining companies. Since its launch in 2023, the accelerator has expanded into a multiphase initiative backing over 45 Saudi startups, deploying 15 investments, and achieving a 100 percent portfolio survival rate.  

Pictured in the lead image is a scene from the partnership signing ceremony between Savvy Games Group and NEOM. Image courtesy Savvy Games Group.