Brian Ward on Argaam On Point discussing Saudi Arabia’s growing games sector

Our CEO Brian Ward spoke to Argaam On Point to discuss Savvy’s role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the global games sector, and the energy behind Vision 2030 that sees games as part of a broader economic transformation.

In the episode, Brian talks about our approach to turning investments into ecosystems that unlock talent, creative development, and culturally relevant game offerings. He also shares his views on the future of esports and how his leadership style has evolved through working in Saudi Arabia.

Watch the full episode below, or read highlights from the transcript.

Watch or listen to the full episode here or read highlights from the transcript below.

Transcript highlights

Our CEO Brian Ward joined Argaam’s On Point to discuss Savvy’s journey, Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the global games sector, and what it takes to build an industry at scale. He talked about Savvy’s role to invest and build sustainable ecosystems that can build Saudi Arabia into a global games and esports hub.

The conversation also covered Savvy’s unique position to bridge East And West, and the ambition to build a geographically balanced global games business.

Speaking about the domestic market and the broader MENA region, the conversation turned to the 500 million people and close to 300 million players that remain underserved by localized games, culturally relevant IP, and quality offerings that bring stories from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East to audiences around the world.

Brian noted that strong game offerings can find their audiences and build hyper-connected communities even in a crowded market, and explained Savvy’s strategy to build a portfolio of category-leading titles through a combination of investment, acquisitions, and organic growth. The conversation also looked at the exceptional growth of mobile games.

Brian closed by reflecting on how living and working in Saudi Arabia has influenced his leadership style. He spoke about the relationship-driven nature of Saudi culture and the value of getting to know and work with business partners over time.