Market (Overall)·Updated Apr 8, 2026 by Shorooq Partners
Report
Published by Shorooq Partners
The Q4 2023 Gaming Industry Report presents a global market that expanded to $212 billion, with the MENAP region contributing $2.8 billion and experiencing a 30% quarter‑over‑quarter rise in both gamers and investment activity. Mobile gaming remains the dominant platform, accounting for 46% of the global player base, while indie PC titles capture a growing share of revenue at roughly 30%. The report also highlights the continued diversification of the industry, noting that game‑to‑movie adaptations generated over $1.4 billion in 2023, underscoring cross‑media opportunities. Regulatory scrutiny intensified across the sector, with a 15% increase in litigation and high‑profile antitrust cases against major platform holders such as Google and Apple. Significant fines were imposed for deceptive practices, reflecting a tightening legal environment that could reshape market dynamics. M&A activity rebounded sharply in Q4, with transactions totaling $68.7 billion—a 769% jump largely driven by the Activision‑Blizzard deal—while global venture capital funding fell. In contrast, MENAP venture activity rose 30%, indicating a strategic pivot toward emerging markets including Asia, Africa, and MENAP for future consolidation. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities for indie studios, potentially enabling higher‑quality titles through increased resources. Shorooq Partners focuses on early‑stage gaming investments within MENAP, targeting pre‑seed to Series A deals with ticket sizes of $1–8 million. The firm prioritizes studios that possess strong intellectual property, robust monetization models, and software solutions that enhance processing efficiency and scalable user connectivity. By engaging through conferences such as the WN Conference Abu Dhabi and LEAP 2024, newsletters, and partnership initiatives, Shorooq aims to nurture the growing MENAP gaming ecosystem.
Q4 2023 Q4 2023 GAMING INDUSTRY REPORT GLOBAL & MENAP OUTLOOK GLOBAL& MENAPOUTLOOK SHOROOQ GAMING
TABLE OF CONTENTS GAMETECH REPORT Q4 Foreword Page 03 Page 03 Market Dashboard Page 05 Global Outlook Page 06 Global Investment Landscape Page 12 MENAP Gaming Outlook Page 17 About Shorooq Partners Page 26 Page 26
At Shorooq Partners, we continue to be committed to our vision to be committed to our vision to At Shorooq Partners, we continue to meticulously understand and At Shorooq Partners, we continue to be committed to our vision to meticulously understand and articulate the ever-evolving gaming industry. We delve deep into analyzing growth trends, regulatory evolutions, and We delve growth trends, deep intoanalyzing We delve regulatory evolutions, an emergingopportunities especially deep into analyzing growth trends, regulatory evolutions, and market context. Our emerging opportunities, especially within the MENAP region’s unique prehensive aimtoilluminatethetransform ativmarket context. Our comprehensive research and keen industry insights addressing theopportunities aim to illuminate the transformative power of innovation and technology, faces. both addressing both the opportunities and challenges this dynamic sector faces. We navigate the complexitiesof We navigate the complexities of legal frameworks and market dynamics to offer ourstakeholders rich pestry foresig a offer our stakeholders a rich tapestry of actionable intelligence and strategic ight. Our itment aspire foster strategic foresight. Our commitment extends beyond mere analysis; we to latforr hat aspire to foster a platform that encourages open exploration and dialogue a pl on pivotal shaping on pivotal themes shaping the gaming landscape. themes the By presenting balanced By presenting a balanced perspective that combines current trends with a forward-looking insights, we strive to empower investors, developers, and forward-lookinginsights, westrive policymakers with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
ng the gaming landscape. themes the By presenting balanced By presenting a balanced perspective that combines current trends with a forward-looking insights, we strive to empower investors, developers, and forward-lookinginsights, westrive policymakers with the knowledge to make informed decisions. This report knowledge policymakers with the is a testament to our dedication to advancing the understanding of the is a testament to ourdedication to gaming sector, advocating for a resilient and thriving future. gaming sector, a future. ,advocatingfor resilientᵃⁿᵈ a this Through this endeavor, we aim to contribute significantly to the dialogue Through endeavor, weaimto on the sector’s future, highlighting the resilience, potential, and vibrancy of , highlighting on the sector's future, the gaming industry as it stands on the cusp of new technological and market breakthroughs. market breakthroughs. market breakthroughs. TAREK FOUAD PARTNER, SHOROOQ PARTNERS PARTNER, SHOROOQ PARTNERS
GLOBAL (YTD) W 212bn 9,000 1.4bn GLOBAL GAMING 2023 GLOBAL LAY-OFFS REVENUE GENERATED FROM MARKET SIZE IN GAMING GAME-MOVIE ADAPTATIONS MENAP (YTD) L3 $2.8bn 30% 80mm+ MENAP GAMING INCREASE IN MENAP QoQ GAMERS MARKET GAMING INVESTMENTS IN MENA MARKET GAMING INVESTMENTS IN MENA
Q4’23 MARKS A 15% RISE IN GAMING LITIGATIONS, Coin Master TikTok FORECASTING STRICTER REGULATIONS IN 2024 AND A NEED 4.6*sh Saga 4.5* FOR TRANSPARENCY WITH PLAYERS The gaming sector saw an uptick in legal disputes, si The gaming sector saw an uptick in legal disputes, signaling a shift in regulatory focus. This wave was marked by high-profile cases that have raised the stakes for digital marketplaces, Royal Match Pando advocating for greater transparency and fairness in transactions and user interactions. 4.6* Poc 4.2 Epic Games vs. Tech Giants: December 2023 brought Epic Games a landmark victory against Google, condemning its Play Store practices as monopolistic, while a prior suit against Apple resulted in a defeat for Epic, with most claims dismissed. These outcomes are likely to influence regulatory reforms and operational Audible: audiob changes within major app distribution platforms. & podca changes within major app distribution platforms. Audible: audio Nexon’s Record Fine for Misleading Practices: Nexon faced a substantial fine ($8.9 million) from the Korea Fair Trade Commission for failing to notify players about the changing odds of acquiring certain paid items. This penalty, the largest EPIC under South Korea's consumer protection laws, underscores the intensified enforcement against deceptive practices and sets a precedent for industry-wide transparency. GAMES Nexon faced a substantial fine ($8.9 million) from the Korea Fair Trade Commission for failing to Rising M&A Scrutiny and Cloud Gaming Concerns:
The analysis presents a forward‑looking assessment of the global gaming market with a particular focus on the MENAP region, outlining the strategic opportunities that are reshaping the industry in 2024 and beyond. Central to the outlook is the rapid convergence of emerging technologies—virtual reality, artificial intelligence, mobile platforms, quantum computing, GPU‑as‑a‑Service, and cloud gaming—which together are accelerating content creation, distribution, and consumption across diverse consumer bases. Investment activity is framed around a thesis that prioritises three core pillars: high‑value content and intellectual property, software efficiency solutions that lower development costs, and user‑generated‑content ecosystems that drive engagement and monetisation. Funding targets range from pre‑seed to Series A rounds, with typical ticket sizes of $1 million to $8 million, reflecting confidence in early‑stage ventures that can capitalize on the identified technology trends. The outreach strategy includes participation in high‑profile events such as the World Gaming Conference in Abu Dhabi (15‑16 February) and LEAP 2024 in Riyadh (4‑7 March), complemented by a dedicated “Gaming Investor” newsletter, a GameON podcast, and sponsorship opportunities for research partners. Overall, the findings underscore a vibrant growth trajectory for gaming in both established and emerging markets, driven by technological innovation and a robust pipeline of investable startups. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage through subscription services, collaborative research, and direct investment to capture value in this rapidly evolving sector.
Fiscal year 2026 ended with a 13 % rise in sales to ¥487.5 bn, yet operating income swung from a ¥48.1 bn profit in FY2025 to a ¥5.7 bn loss, driven by significant goodwill impairments on Rovio and Stakelogic and a widening deficit in the Gaming segment. Adjusted EBITDA fell to ¥16.6 bn, reflecting heavy upfront development costs and impairment charges, while net equity contracted by ¥48.7 bn as cash balances were depleted following the acquisitions of GAN and Stakelogic. Within Entertainment Contents, sales edged up to ¥326.6 bn from ¥321.5 bn, but operating income declined from ¥40.8 bn to ¥32.4 bn because new Full‑Game and F2P titles underperformed, despite steady growth in licensing revenue. Forecasts for FY2027 project sales of ¥357 bn and operating income of ¥42.5 bn, contingent on successful new IP launches, repeat sales, and a planned lift in licensing income. Margin erosion from title underperformance remains a key risk. Capital allocation for FY2026/3 was restructured to focus on ¥190 bn of cumulative investment over FY2025–FY2027, allocating ¥80 bn to development, ¥120 bn to strategic acquisitions, and planning ¥70 bn in share buybacks while pausing large‑scale M&A. Shareholder returns are expected to rise sharply, with FY2026/3 projected at ¥31.5 bn (≈¥11.7 bn in dividends) and FY2027/3 potentially reaching ¥16.2 bn under a 50 % total‑return ratio applied to projected net income. Pachislot sales showed modest growth, buoyed by new titles and strong first‑week performance of flagship IPs such as “Hokuto No Ken” and “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.” Pachinko sales declined as the temporary lift from Lucky Trigger 3.0 Plus faded and hall utilization softened. The group plans to introduce reel‑exchangeable cabinets, expected to account for roughly 20 % of pachislot revenue, and is positioning the gaming business for a J‑curve bottom in FY2027 through intensive lease sales and B2B platform upgrades. The release schedule for FY2026/3 emphasizes a concentrated push of multi‑platform titles, including the Nintendo Switch 2 launch in March 2026 and a slate of global releases across consoles, PC, and mobile from late 2025 to mid‑2026. Key animation properties such as *Detective Conan* and *Lupin the Third* are slated for April–June 2025, with several new IPs and Netflix exclusives planned for early 2026. Pachislot and pachinko product launches are detailed with projected unit sales ranging from 8,000 to 49,000 units across varying gambling‑specification tiers.
Sony Group’s FY2025 consolidated results demonstrate modest revenue growth and a mixed profitability profile across its core business units. Total sales increased 4 % to ¥12.48 trn, largely driven by higher operating income in the Imaging & Sensing Solutions (I&SS) and Music segments. Operating income rose 13 % to ¥1.45 trn, while net income attributable to shareholders fell 3 % to ¥1.03 trn because of a larger equity‑method loss in the Financial Services arm and higher impairment charges. Operating cash flow remained flat at ¥1.97 trn, and the spin‑off of Sony Financial Group was treated as a discontinued operation from Q1 FY25 onward. Within the Music division, sales climbed 15 % to ¥277.5 billion, propelled by growth in Recorded Music and Music Publishing streaming revenues (+9 % and +14 % respectively), live‑event income, and a strong contribution from the Demon Slayer franchise. Operating income in this segment surged 25 % to ¥89.7 billion, reaching a record high even after excluding one‑time items. Sony projects flat sales for FY2026, with operating income expected to decline 11 % to ¥47 billion as streaming gains are offset by the loss of Demon Slayer’s impact. The company consolidates its Pictures and Music results on a U.S. dollar basis, translating foreign‑currency sales and costs using weighted average exchange rates while accounting for hedging transactions. Foreign‑exchange fluctuations affect both sales and operating income, with I&SS hedging gains or losses incorporated into these calculations. These disclosures supplement, but do not replace, Sony’s IFRS‑compliant consolidated financial statements.
Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. experienced a pronounced deterioration in financial health during 2025, with total assets halving to $64.9 million from $128.4 million in 2024 and a cumulative deficit of $484.9 million. Net loss narrowed to $44 million, yet revenue fell sharply to $32 M and operating losses from discontinued operations reached $34 M. Shareholders’ equity collapsed to $1.78 million, while liabilities rose to $64.9 M, creating a working‑capital deficit that raises serious going‑concern doubts. Key accounting policies emphasize foreign‑currency translation, principal‑vs‑agent revenue recognition across media, subscription, events, esports and merchandise streams, and goodwill impairment testing. IFRS‑based policies apply CGU impairment reviews, fair‑value measurement for financial instruments, and simplified expected credit loss provisioning. Recent IAS 21 amendments had no material effect, but forthcoming IFRS 18 and IFRS 9 changes are under review. Debt restructuring dominated 2025, with multiple forbearance agreements and new term loans (A and B) carrying high fixed rates (14–16%) and PIK/convertible features. Losses on debt modification totaled over $400 million, and covenant breaches triggered potential acceleration of repayments. Current long‑term debt portions rose to $45.58 million, while earn‑out liabilities were largely settled. Liquidity remains fragile; trade receivables fell to $4.81 million, and interest expense—including default interest—reached $1.81 million. Capital management remains heavily reliant on external financing, with significant deferred tax assets tied to Canadian loss carryforwards expiring by 2045. Overall, the company’s financial position has weakened sharply, and continued viability depends on additional capital or restructuring.