Blue Tango Street

Beyond the Player: Pathways of Women Founders Shaping Indie Games in the Arab World

This is a session description from the Game Developers Conference 2026 (GDC Vault), titled "Beyond the Player: Pathways of Women Founders Shaping Indie Games in the Arab World."

• The session features seven speakers, with affiliations including Alfaisal University and Starvania Studio.
• The overview states that far less is known about the women creating the games than about Arab women gamers.
• The session describes women-led studios as navigating cultural norms, under-resourced ecosystems and gendered barriers.