Country & Regional Reports·Updated Mar 21, 2026 by Shorooq Partners
The global gaming market reached a valuation exceeding $250 billion with a 9.9% CAGR, even as the industry underwent a period of operational recalibration resulting in over 2,000 layoffs in Q3 2023.
The MENA region remains a growth outlier, expanding 6.9% year-over-year to reach a $5 billion market size, supported by a demographic where 70% of the population is under 30.
Global venture capital investment returned to pre-pandemic levels with $454 million secured in Q3 2023, with Jordan emerging as a regional hub by capturing 30% of all MENA-based deals.
In Egypt, the region's largest market by population, 60% of top-performing titles are casual or hyper-casual games, though 40% of the gamer base remains unbanked and requires alternative payment solutions.
Generative AI is projected to impact over 50% of the game development process within the next decade.
Industry players are strategically pivoting toward emerging markets to mitigate the rising costs of talent in Western territories.
The global gaming market reached a valuation exceeding $250 billion with a 9.9% CAGR, even as the industry underwent a period of operational recalibration resulting in over 2,000 layoffs in Q3 2023.
The MENA region remains a growth outlier, expanding 6.9% year-over-year to reach a $5 billion market size, supported by a demographic where 70% of the population is under 30.
Global venture capital investment returned to pre-pandemic levels with $454 million secured in Q3 2023, with Jordan emerging as a regional hub by capturing 30% of all MENA-based deals.
In Egypt, the region's largest market by population, 60% of top-performing titles are casual or hyper-casual games, though 40% of the gamer base remains unbanked and requires alternative payment solutions.
Generative AI is projected to impact over 50% of the game development process within the next decade.
Industry players are strategically pivoting toward emerging markets to mitigate the rising costs of talent in Western territories.