Connect with us

Tech News

The Future of Gaming in the MENA Region

Published

on

games MENA

By Mario Pérez, CEO MENATech (a company of GGTech Entertainment)

The MENA region is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in the global gaming industry. Its gaming ecosystem is now the second fastest-growing worldwide, driven by an increase in the player base, investment from governments, and innovative trends like esports and game development. This region is not only shaping the future of gaming but positioning itself as a global hub for gaming innovation.

In recent years, gaming has undergone a radical transformation. Multiplayer games and increased interaction among players have made gaming a social activity rather than a solo pursuit. This evolution has democratized gaming, attracting millions of new players. Streaming platforms, virtual reality, and web3 are enhancing gaming experiences, making them more immersive and accessible. With all these innovations, the gaming industry is evolving rapidly, and MENA is at the forefront of this change.

MENA’s Gaming Market Growth

The MENA gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, positioning itself as a key player in the global market, with the video games market projected to reach $2.9 billion in revenue in 2028. The region’s player base of 377 million rivals that of Europe and the US, making it one of the most dynamic regions for gaming growth.

Several factors contribute to this surge. First, the region’s young population—55% of which is under 30—is highly tech-savvy. The proliferation of mobile gaming and increased internet penetration has further accelerated growth. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading this charge, boasting some of the highest engagement rates in the world. In fact, nine out of ten adults in the UAE are gamers, according to Statista’s Global Consumer Survey.

The region’s rapid growth and tax-free earnings have made it attractive for global gaming companies and investors, cementing its place as a crucial player in the global gaming landscape.

Government Support and Strategic Initiatives

Governments across the MENA region are fully backing the growth of the gaming and esports sectors. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, for example, has a clear focus on developing the gaming industry as part of the nation’s broader economic diversification efforts. Its National Gaming and Esports Strategy aims to create 39,000 jobs by 2030 and contribute to the kingdom’s growing digital economy.

The UAE is equally committed to this vision, with initiatives like the ‘Abu Dhabi Gaming’ program, designed to foster talent and establish year-round gaming events. Dubai, through its Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG 2033), is introducing long-term residency visas for gaming professionals to nurture a vibrant gaming community. The city also aims to generate 30,000 jobs in the gaming sector by 2033, adding $1 billion to its GDP. DMCC Gaming Centre in Dubai, which houses around 100 gaming companies, also shows how governments are creating environments that encourage innovation and collaboration.

Esports: The MENA Region as a New Hub

In 2023, the global esports audience reached 540 million, with the MENA region playing a pivotal role in its growth. Saudi Arabia has become a major player in this space, hosting the Esports World Cup this year and preparing to host the Esports Olympics in 2025. These events are not just about competition; they represent an economic shift, driving tourism, creating jobs, and embedding esports into the cultural fabric of the region.

With 60% of global esports revenue coming from sponsorships, the MENA region is well-positioned to capitalize on this booming market. Professional leagues and international tournaments are gaining traction, and global brands like Coca-Cola, Toyota and Amazon are increasingly partnering with local esports teams and organizations, providing sponsorships that fuel the industry’s growth.

Local studios and developers are creating content that reflects the region’s culture and values, with publishers releasing Arabic language versions of their games to cater to the growing market.

Streaming has revolutionized how people consume games, offering opportunities for both participation and spectating. The rise of elite leagues and professional players has further driven the esports scene, making gaming a central part of entertainment in MENA. Full-time gaming careers are now a reality, with players earning through live streaming, tournament prizes, and merchandising.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

A cohesive governing structure is needed to align popular games and create a unified competitive landscape, like the MENA Tech’s annual UNIVERSITY Esports competition, which hosts multi-game tournaments for college students in the region.

Monetization remains a challenge, as esports is often viewed as a marketing tool rather than a profitable industry. Increased collaboration, regulation, and innovative revenue-sharing models are key to unlocking the region’s gaming potential. Technologies like NFTs, blockchain, and the Metaverse are infusing the arena with fresh monetisation prospects.

The future of gaming will largely hinge on technological advancements, with key trends leading the way. These include the rise of sports and fitness gamification, AI-driven transformations, and the resurgence of handheld gaming devices. Emerging technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality will also play a significant role, particularly with the development of extended reality, which blends the former two to blur the line between physical and virtual worlds.

MENA’s Path to Global Influence

With strong government support, rising player engagement, and a growing esports scene, the MENA region is well on its way to becoming a global leader in the gaming industry. As the region continues to invest in technology and infrastructure, its influence on the global gaming stage will only grow. The future of gaming in MENA looks incredibly promising, and its potential to shape the industry’s future is undeniable.

Tech News

ACRONIS LAUNCHES GENAI PROTECTION, ENABLING MSPS TO SECURE AND GOVERN AI USAGE

Published

on

Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, has announced the launch of Acronis GenAI Protection, a monitoring and security solution that enables managed service providers (MSPs) to control generative AI usage across client environments, preventing sensitive data exposure and protecting against malicious prompt manipulation. Acronis GenAI Protection represents the initial phase of Acronis Cyber Workspace, with additional capabilities planned for release to deliver a protected AI workspace, natively integrated into the Acronis platform.

As organizations rapidly adopt generative AI tools, businesses face growing risks related to data leakage, shadow AI usage, and malicious prompt manipulation. Many consumer-grade AI tools lack enterprise visibility, while enterprise solutions are not designed to be delivered and managed through MSPs. Acronis GenAI Protection addresses this gap by providing partners with a purpose-built solution to monitor and secure generative AI usage across SMB environments.

AI Monitoring and Security Delivered Through MSPs

Acronis GenAI Protection is designed to be provisioned, managed, and monetized by MSPs. Through a centralized console integrated into the Acronis platform, service providers can monitor AI usage across customer environments, including policy enforcement, reporting, and risk mitigation, while protecting generative AI interactions alongside data, applications, and endpoints.

“Generative AI adoption is accelerating, but it introduces new risks that businesses are not fully equipped to manage,” said Gaidar Magdanurov, President at Acronis. “MSPs are uniquely positioned to help businesses adopt AI securely, but until now they haven’t had the right tools to monitor and manage it effectively. GenAI Protection enables MSPs to turn AI security into a managed service, creating new revenue opportunities while protecting their customers from emerging risks.”

Built-In Protection for Generative AI Usage

Acronis GenAI Protection provides visibility and security for AI usage without requiring additional point solutions or enterprise-grade complexity.

Key capabilities include:

  • Shadow AI usage and visibility: Discover and monitor generative AI applications used across client environments to understand adoption and risk exposure.
  • Sensitive data protection for AI interactions: Inspect prompts for sensitive data such as PII or PHI and prevent unauthorized transmission to public or unsanctioned AI tools.
  • Prompt injection and AI abuse prevention: Detect and block malicious prompts designed to manipulate AI behavior or compromise workflows.

“AI is now mainstream for SMBs, with over half using AI tools, led by marketing and sales seeking scale, productivity, and efficiency,” said Matthew Ball, Chief Analyst at Omdia. “While most adoption runs through SaaS, growing use of consumer AI, sanctioned or not, generates new security risks that create new requirements for MSPs to actively manage.”

As AI continues to evolve, Acronis plans to introduce additional AI-powered capabilities to protect, manage, and automate AI services and tools within its broader Cyber Workspace offering. These enhancements are designed to boost productivity and automation, enabling MSPs to streamline day-to-day operations while strengthening data and asset protection.

Continue Reading

Tech News

Alteryx Launches AI Insights Agent on Google Cloud Marketplace, Bringing Reliable, Repeatable AI Answers into Gemini Enterprise

Published

on

Alteryx, Inc., an AI-ready data and analytics company, today announced the launch of the Alteryx AI Insights Agent, now available on Google Cloud Marketplace, bringing governed analytics directly into Gemini Enterprise. As companies increasingly turn to AI to drive decisions, a critical gap has emerged between speed and trust. While generative AI is reshaping how work gets done, most approaches still fall short in enterprise environments where accuracy, governance, and control are essential. AI-generated responses are often inconsistent with business metrics, difficult to validate, and not aligned with how organisations actually operate. Nearly half of leaders cite high-quality, accessible, and well-governed data as the top factor for agentic AI to reach its full potential, underscoring the gap between AI capability and enterprise readiness.

“At the core of enterprise AI is trust,” said Ben Canning, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx. “When it comes to decisions like pricing, operations, or compliance, accuracy isn’t optional. AI doesn’t just need data — it needs to understand how the business actually works. That means applying defined logic, rules, and context that the people closest to the work understand and continuously evolve. With the AI Insights Agent, we’re bringing that logic directly into Gemini Enterprise, so every answer is consistent, explainable, and ready to drive action.” 

The Alteryx AI Insights Agent allows information workers to define governed datasets and business logic within Alteryx One that are executed in response to user queries in Gemini Enterprise. Instead of generating answers from raw or unstructured data, the agent leverages in-place analytics to run predefined workflows directly on data platforms such as BigQuery, ensuring outputs align with business metrics without the need for data movement or manual effort.

With the Alteryx AI Insights Agent, organizations can:

  • Deliver trusted insights at scale: Consistent answers grounded in enterprise data
  • Enable seamless user experience: Information workers to access insights directly within Gemini Enterprise
  • Encode analyst-driven control: With business logic, definitions, and guardrails into every interaction
  • Maintain enterprise governance: Including auditability, predictability, and control across AI-driven decision-making

“Bringing AI Insights Agent to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow the agent on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Dai Vu, Managing Director, Marketplace & ISV GTM Programs at Google Cloud. “Alteryx can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.”

The Alteryx AI Insights Agent delivers faster, more trusted answers within the tools employees love to use. For business analysts and operations teams, it extends the value of their Alteryx investments into AI-driven experiences for everyday decision-making. For IT and data leaders, it provides a path to accelerate AI adoption without compromising trust.

This release builds on Alteryx’s expanding collaboration with Google Cloud, following the introduction of in-place analytics on BigQuery earlier this year. With the addition of the AI Insights Agent for Gemini Enterprise, Alteryx is extending its platform from governed data and workflows into AI-driven environments, with further innovations—including the new Alteryx One: Google Edition, planned for later this year.

Continue Reading

Tech News

ASUS LAUNCHES CHROMEBOOK CM32 DETACHABLE FOR RELIABLE MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY

Published

on

ASUS has announced the all-new ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable, the perfect portable companion for study, work and play, with a versatile 2-in-1 design that allows it to transform seamlessly from a laptop to a tablet. It features a bright and vibrant touchscreen, an Arm®-based processor, a magnetic stylus with wireless charging, front and world-facing cameras, up to 13-hour battery life, fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and outstanding military-strength durability.

“The ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable affirms our commitment to offering solutions that adapt to the needs of different sectors as they all continue to shift towards mobile, hybrid environments,” said Tolga Özdil, Regional Commercial Director, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (META) at ASUS. “Its flexible design makes it an ideal productivity companion for users in any environment, and is guaranteed to withstand daily wear and tear.”

Versatile mobility and outstanding durability

ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable offers superb versatility with a range of practical accessories. The detachable keyboard allows smooth transition between tablet and laptop modes, making it ideal for learning or productivity. An optional magnetic stand covered with a strong, stain-resistant leatherette material can be set at almost any angle. There’s also an optional magnetic USI 2.0 stylus that charges wirelessly.

Ideal for remote learning or long business days, the ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable is engineered with an ample battery that delivers up to 13 hours of use on a single charge. Also, the lightweight design means it’s easy to take it anywhere. The device has been tested to industry-leading US MIL-STD 810H standards, ensuring it’s ready to deliver portable productivity anywhere.

Power for everyday productivity

ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable is powered by an Arm®-based MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor and features up to 8GB of LPDDR5X memory and 128GB of storage. Extensive connectivity options further empower on-the-go users, including up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth® 5.4, along with a USB-C® port, an audio combo jack, and a pogo-pin interface for the detachable keyboard available in White or Dark Grey. There’s also a 5MP front-facing camera and a 5MP world-facing camera.

Upgraded visuals and audio

Users will enjoy exceptional clarity and durability with the device’s stunning 12.1-inch 2.5K high-resolution touchscreen. Its ultrabright 600-nits panel and expansive 87% screen-to-body ratio ensure crisp visuals, while the 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth motion and reduced blur. The display is protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 with an anti-fingerprint coating, offering up to four times the scratch resistance of standard aluminosilicate glass. Paired with immersive Dolby Atmos® audio, CM32 provides a premium, engaging, and robust entertainment experience for professionals on the move.

The best of ChromeOS

Available this July, owners of the ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable can try Google AI Pro and enjoy access to the best of Gemini and 2TB of cloud storage for 3 months at no cost. Users can boost productivity and creativity with Nano Banana image generation and enjoy access to Veo as well as Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and more. Plus, 2TB of cloud storage provides sufficient space for photos and files, all in one plan. Popular apps for streaming, gaming, creating, and staying organized are all available on Google Play. Users can easily access Netflix, Adobe Lightroom, Zoom, Microsoft 365, and so much more on their Chromebook.

ChromeOS features automatic updates and benefits from built-in virus protection, seamlessly keeping itself safe, secure and always up to date. It is also engineered around the rock-solid security of a personal Google Account, so the user’s private documents, emails, photos and confidential data are kept safe at all times. ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable can be purchased with either Chrome Education Upgrade or Chrome Enterprise Upgrade to enable management of the device from the Google Admin console.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 | The Integrator