In a defining step for Saudi Arabia’s entertainment economy, NEOM has officially selected five local startup studios for the largest cycle of its "Level Up" accelerator. Announced on January 7, 2026, the chosen cohort—Aiqona Productions, Fourcast Studio, Makera, OFF BOX Studios, and Phys—was narrowed down after a competitive phase that supported over 23 studios. This initiative is a core engine of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a global hub and contribute $13.3 billion (SAR 50 billion) to the national GDP by 2030. The selected studios will now receive dedicated funding and embark on a seven-month "Acceleration Phase" featuring 600 hours of intensive mentorship. Mentors from global leaders like DigiPen will provide guidance on game design, technical infrastructure, and business operations. Crucially, the program grants these developers direct access to NEOM’s Global Publisher Partner Network, including UK-based giant Kwalee and the ME...