Savvy Games Group, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced on Sunday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Niantic Inc., a global leader in augmented reality and location-based games, to support Niantic’s expansion into the Middle East and North Africa region, specifically in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
The partnership will focus on inspiring people to play together through local community-building efforts and live events in the region, promoting exploration and discovery of cities and local neighborhoods, the company said in a statement.
Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group, said: “Our collaboration with Niantic marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bring cutting-edge games and esports experiences to the Middle East and North Africa region.”
He added that “by leveraging our local expertise and resources, we are excited to support Niantic’s expansion and create engaging, localized content that resonates with players across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.”
Founder and CEO of Niantic, John Hanke, said: “Our partnership with Savvy Games Group will significantly enhance our reach in this vibrant region and support our growing community of players.
“Savvy’s deep understanding of the local markets and commitment to innovation makes it an ideal partner to inspire new audiences to explore the world and build real-world connections.”
Savvy will additionally look at ways to aid Niantic in establishing its regional operations in the Middle East and North Africa area.
This support could include identifying and securing office space, assisting with the recruitment of local talent, and providing administrative and logistical assistance to set up a functional regional office.
