Side has announced plans to launch a new studio in Saudi Arabia through a partnership with Savvy Games Group

Side, a provider in the gaming services sector, has shared plans to establish a new facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This venture is a collaboration with Savvy Games Group, set to be operational by late 2025, focusing on offering co-development services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

According to Game Developer, a Memorandum of Understanding was formalized yesterday between the two companies. The gaming market in Saudi Arabia is seen as highly strategic globally, especially in development, affirmed Side's CEO, Deborah Kirkham. She pointed out the welcoming environment for UK enterprises, fostered by partners like Savvy and a government pushing for growth.

Savvy Games Group, under the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) which has been criticized for human rights concerns by Amnesty International, aims to make notable strides with Side in the burgeoning market.

Martin McBride, Side's chief communications officer, acknowledged the potential hurdles due to regional instability but expressed optimism, stating that exceptional games can be crafted universally and underlining the importance of localizing content to engage Saudi Arabia's vast young gaming audience.

McBride clarified that Savvy Games does not hold any financial interest in Side, and the partnership is purely operational without any equity sharing. He emphasized the shared mission of bringing innovative gaming content to a global stage.

The PIF has investments in several major gaming companies, including Nintendo, Capcom and Nexon, EA, and Take Two, as well as Activision Blizzard and Koei Tecmo.

Savvy Games SVP Nika Nour highlighted the enthusiasm for assisting Side's entry into Saudi Arabia's dynamic gaming scene, aiming to nurture a future crop of game developers in the region.

Reflecting on Side's global strategy, McBride mentioned their recent expansion in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the team grew significantly in less than two years, bolstered by the support of major international clients.

Founded originally as PTW in 1994, Side underwent rebranding earlier this year, uniting its various divisions, including 1518 Studios and Ghostpunch Games, under a single brand identity.