As one of the wealthiest countries in the MENA region, Saudi Arabia has found an unexpected way to diversify its income and industries: video games. By spearheading a significant investment in the sector, Saudi Arabia is slowly becoming one of the leading video game hubs in the Middle East – and maybe worldwide.
Home to Sandsoft Games and Savvy Games Group, the capital of Saudi Arabia aims to become a major player in video game development, with AAA studios worldwide expected to open offices there shortly.
Probably the most strategic and sought-over gaming hub in Europe, the United Kingdom has had a long-standing history with video game development. Being home to some of the world’s most iconic developers and a rich cultural community, recent government initiatives striving to turn the Kingdom into a tech powerhouse have pushed the local gaming industry to the forefront.
Unsurprisingly, the UK’s capital is one of the country’s largest and most central gaming hubs. Indie studios, AAA powerhouses and tech startups collide at the Thames’ riverside, with several gaming events frequently hosted here.
Newcastle’s strategic location near tech universities with top-level game design programs has attracted the attention of many video game developers and prominent companies worldwide.
As one of the most vital hubs in the UK, Guildford is well-known for its innovation and variety when approaching video game development. A massive range of studios and companies have made the city its home.
Most outsiders to the industry are surprised to know one of the most soothing cities and tourist destinations in the UK is also home to an extensive gaming community. Nevertheless, Leamington Spa has contributed significantly to the industry’s growth, being home to international and local studios of all sizes and funding.
Several indie and AA studios are picking Manchester as their go-to destination. The presence of regional gaming events and a supportive ecosystem for the tech industry is slowly turning the city into a major player for game makers.
Hosting several gaming events and some prominent developers like Lucid Games, Liverpool’s vibrant cultural scene makes it a powerful magnet for creative people in the video game industry.
Ireland’s capital has seen impressive growth in tech industries and investments over the last few years, making it an emerging market for video games. A mix of studios and events makes Dublin attractive for developers worldwide.
The United States West Coast has been the beating heart of the video game industry for over two decades worldwide. AAA studios, small boutique creators, and indie developers have pushed boundaries and redefined rules to make authentic GOTY contenders each year.
As the leading gaming hub in the world, competition can get fierce here, creating a sense of urgency and awareness seldom seen in other places. Nevertheless, the US West Coast has also developed an impressive learning and educational infrastructure through the years, turning it into a fast-course location to learn all things gaming.
One of the preferred spots in the United States for emerging game studios, indie developers, and co-development boutiques, Seattle has been instrumental in birthing a new gaming and entertainment hub.
Traditionally known as Valve Corporation’s home field, Bellevue has also been the birthplace of Bungie and its legendary contributions to Destiny and Halo.
Located at the base of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, this beautiful retreat is home to indie and AAA development. It is renowned for its homonymous game studio, responsible for several Sony PlayStation hits like Days Gone and the legendary Syphon Filter series.
The worldwide capital of the entertainment industry has seen its fair share of gaming projects through the years, but one constant remains: only the créme de la créme gets the spotlight here.
If you are looking for innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, look no further than Frisco. Silicon Valley’s seat of power is also home to a vibrant mobile game and gaming apps development community. Niantic, Twitch, Zynga, and AppLovin; all of them have their headquarters here.
The birthplace of 2018’s celebrated God of War remake, Riot Games’ incredibly successful MOBA, League of Legends, and the IPs of legendary developer Blizzard Entertainment keeps bringing the attention of game developers and investors worldwide.
A significant business and tech upsurge in the midwestern United States has led to the apparition of new video game studios in the region. Fueled by fresh talent from the region’s top tech universities and competitive capital, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a new Silicon Valley growing here soon.
The Windy City has seen steady growth in video game development over the last decade. The home of Mortal Kombat has paved the way for indie developers, mobile gaming studios, and gaming startups looking to find success among giants.
Where the Missouri and Kansas rivers meet, gaming is on the rise. A small community of independent developers and third-party studios have set up branches in Kansas City, telling everyone there’s a future in the Midwest.
In the heat of the US Southwest, a new gaming development hub has been rising through the last few years. Thanks to massive capital investments from abroad and the apparition of heavy players, the region is becoming home to a fledgling scene of AAA and indie developers.
Initially the home of various co-development studios and small gaming startups, Austin has seen increased relevance in the gaming industry thanks to veteran companies, like Arkane Studios and Amazon Game Studios, setting up shop there.
Although its fortunes have changed since years ago, Dallas is still home to a sizeable development community. Bethesda Game Studios and Sickhead Games are among the companies with headquarters or branches there.
The City of Sin has slowly become a video game hub over the last few years, with AA and AAA studios funding new QA and game development offices among the casinos and spotlights.
The Atlantic United States have slowly opened themselves to a curious, if timid, wave of video game developers. With fresh financing coming from several allies in Europe and MENA, the cosmopolitan nature of several cities on the US East Coast is leading to a fascinating clash of cultures and ideas.
Being the world’s financial capital, New York also boasts of being one of the video game industry’s central hubs, with most AAA publishers and developers worldwide having offices there.
The inspiration for Rockstar Games’ legendary Vice City became a fledgling gaming hub over the last two decades. Its entrepreneurial spirit has transformed the development scene there, with mobile gaming, tech startups, and even play-to-earn gaming vying for supremacy.
The home of Magic Kingdom Park is also a vital territory for gaming. Several AAA and AA companies have set up secondary branches here, taking advantage of the city’s entertainment infrastructure and family-friendly way of living to push boundaries in gaming development.
The Bean Town is experiencing a surge in video game developers among its already prolific tech scene, with several AAA studios and mobile gaming startups counting themselves among the forerunners here.
The East Coast’s Research Triangle bears the full range of video game development, with some of the most innovative indie studios and gaming startups in the American market standing alongside AAA giants like Epic Games and Insomniac Games.
Canada has become a vital territory for video game development thanks to its cultural diversity, supportive government policies, and closeness to the United States and its entertainment industry. Few countries can boast such a cosmopolitan, thriving community that continually showcases the best things about the industry when done right.
Canada’s most vibrant and varied artistic community is also home to one of its largest video game development hubs. Bolstered by its closeness to the Hollywood film and VFX industry and its highly skilled workforce, Vancouver is home to a robust AAA scene.
As one of few art and culture hubs in Canada that can rival Vancouver, Toronto truly shines in two things: indie studios with rich, creative ideas and AAA, high-quality game development.
With top-level talent fresh out of their abundant universities and art institutes, Montreal is an authentic tour de force. Its unique openness to game development has helped heavyweight companies like Ubisoft and Square Enix set up branches there.
One of Canada’s most important cities, both from a historical and cultural standpoint, Quebec has steadily grown in relevance in the video game industry. Some of the country’s most groundbreaking animation, VFX, and game co-development studios, like Frima and Beenox, call Quebec home.
Although Spain has been a vital technological enclave in Europe for decades, its emergence as a global gaming hub is a relatively new phenomenon. A growing number of talented developers, a strategic location in the continent, and numerous government initiatives have skyrocketed the Hispanic country as a world-class referent.
Home to several gaming events and conventions and with a vibrant learning community, Barcelona has positioned itself as the leading destination for aspiring Spanish game developers. Its highly skilled and passionate workforce has also attracted the attention of AAA companies in North America and Europe, contributing to its increasing popularity.
Spain’s capital is no slouch when it comes to video game development. Major companies and indie studios have made their homes in Madrid thanks to a mixture of robust infrastructure, a culturally diverse workforce, and tech-friendly regulations.
Although tame by the standards of their bigger cousins, Valencia is a thriving game development hub thanks to its large community of developers and its continual hosting of learning events and game jams.
The land of freedom, equality, and fraternity is unsurprisingly one of Europe’s most relevant gaming hubs. Its cultural relevance and long-standing relationship with art and animation blend with the French’s spirit and determination to make unique games.
Being home to world-class gaming studios and hosting several gaming events and eSports venues, the City of Light is a growing presence in the industry. An impressive range of studios here count themselves among France’s best game developers.
The home of Arkane Studios plays a pivotal role in the video game industry, hosting eSports events and fostering innovation and growth in the region. Several gaming startups and indie studios are turning Lyon into the next big thing in gaming.
Traditionally one of France’s tech powerhouses, Montpellier has attracted significant investment in video game companies over the last few years. Companies ranging from Ubisoft Montpellier’s AAA status to established indie studios such as The Game Bakers are luring talent worldwide.
The heart of Europe’s industrial efforts has also seen a massive increase in video game development over the last decades. Germany’s relevance in tech and computer science has slowly made its way to gaming.
Germany’s capital is slowly becoming a burgeoning video game industry hub. A thriving indie game scene finds its place among AAA giants worldwide, also being attracted to Berlin for its strategic location and tech potential.
Thanks to a growing community of developers and a supportive ecosystem for tech industries, Munich is one of Germany’s most relevant powerhouses in all things gaming.
Extensive government support and emerging tech talent have made Hamburg a mobile gaming hub, with studios such as InnoGames, Bigpoint, and even Niantic finding their place in the city.
As a cultural and artistic jewel in the Nordics, Finland has fostered a growing gaming community. Primarily known for its mobile gaming studios, the country has also found its place among some of the leading AAA and AA developers in the video game industry.
Over the past few years, Helsinki has become a global mobile gaming powerhouse. Animoca Brands, Fingersoft, Next Games, Rovio and Supercell are just a sample of the impressive Unity-based experience you will find here.
Well-known as the headquarters of Colossal Order and Seriously, Tampere is one of Finland’s most supportive cities for gaming startups and indie development studios.
Home to the acclaimed Remedy Entertainment, Espoo is slowly attracting a burgeoning game development scene of all sizes and ambitions.
One of Europe’s most relevant cultural and artistic centers has slowly become a sacred ground to innovation, creativity, and a burgeoning tech industry – making it an ideal place for indie and AAA developers to call it home.
The traditional seat of power of Guerrilla Games is slowly turning into a AAA haven, with prominent developers and publishers like Bohemia Interactive, PLAION, and Polyphony Digital setting up shop there.
The home of the Dutch Game Garden has fostered a growing community of indie game developers and learning institutions.
Thanks to its world-class reputation, talented developers, and low production costs, Poland has attracted a thriving community of game makers. The Poles’ distinct knack for storytelling and art resulted in some of the most relevant and groundbreaking roleplaying and action games ever made.
Home to power players such as CD Projekt RED, Flying Wild Hog, and Techland, Warsaw’s relevance in the video game industry is undisputed. Most of the Polish AAA video game development companies have their headquarters here.
An ever-growing indie scene – with Bloober Team and One More Level as its flag bearers – has turned Krakow into a reference in video game development.
The apparition of several animation, VFX, and game co-development studios and art providers in Wroclaw has made it an emerging gaming and entertainment hub in Poland.
As the leading video game industry hub in the Nordics, Sweden has become a lighthouse for innovation, creativity, and some impressive budgets during the last three decades.
One of the largest European gaming hubs by its sheer number of developers, Stockholm has been crucial to the success of several gaming franchises worldwide, housing major AAA publishers and developers like DICE, King, Mojang Studios, Paradox Interactive, and Rovio.
With the support of initiatives like Sweden Game Arena, Gothenburg has become a learning powerhouse in the video game industry. These fostering qualities have attracted several indie developers and gaming startups.
As the headquarters of AAA gaming leaders such as Avalanche Studios Group, Massive Entertainment, and Tarsier Studios, Malmö has built a significant reputation in video game development over the last few years.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
Denmark’s capital has created a welcoming background for video game developers worldwide, setting events such as the Copenhagen Gaming Week and the Scandinavian Game Show – and being the headquarters of none other than IO Interactive.
Home to Aalborg University and its game education programs, it has attracted significant attention from indie publishers and developers such as 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
South Korea’s capital is home to some of the most impressive eSports and gaming events worldwide – and it is also the seat of power of global gaming powerhouses. Not only Korean companies like Nexon, Netmarble, and Smilegate have significantly grown there, but some of the world’s most prominent AAA companies, like Activision Blizzard, NetEase Games, Riot Games, and Supercell, are taking notice.
Thanks to its strategic location near Seoul, Seongnam has leveraged its resources, tech infrastructure, and gaming culture to position itself as one of South Korea’s growing development havens. Kakao Entertainment, KRAFTON, and NCSoft are some of the power players in the region.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
As one of China’s largest business and financial hubs, Shanghai has become the place to go for international companies in the entertainment and gaming industries looking to establish a foothold in this ancestral country. CCP Games, Demonware, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Supercell, and Unity have offices here.
One of China’s most technologically advanced cities is also home to one of the country’s most burgeoning efforts in the video game scene. The headquarters of NetEase Games are attracting worldwide attention as a future gaming hub for regional and international companies.
Due to its rapid technological advancement, supportive government policies, and proximity to manufacturing centres, Shenzhen has become one of China’s most relevant business hubs. Being home to one of the most prominent power players in game development – Tencent Games – has also contributed to its reputation as a global gaming hub.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
Malaysia’s capital and financial centre has seen several European game developers establishing offices there. Codemasters, Double Eleven, Gameloft and Larian Studios are but a few developers seeing massive advantages for their global teams in the region.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
Japan’s capital is home to most of the country’s game developers across the mobile and console scenes. Nintendo, Sony, SEGA, Bandai Namco, From Software, Game Freak, Konami, Tango Gameworks, Team Ninja and The Pokémon Company are just a few legendary game developers and publishers that you can find stationed here.
Traditionally known as the headquarters of Capcom, Osaka is home to a vibrant gaming scene. The creators of Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Mega Man, among others, share their turf with the world-renowned PlatinumGames – of Bayonetta and Nier: Automata fame – and Ubisoft Osaka, one of the first offices of the French gaming conglomerate on Asian soil.
Known for its cuisine, museums, festivals, and music, the long-considered gateway to Japan is also becoming a crucial gaming destination for indie, mobile, and AAA developers. CyberConnect2, From Software and Polyphony Digital, among others, have set up branches there.
A robust gaming culture and significant government support for its tech industry have turned Denmark into an attractive destination for video game developers who are slowly building a thriving community.
Home to several North American, European, and Asian players like Bandai Namco, Blizzard Entertainment, Koei Tecmo, Konami, NetEase Games, Ubisoft, Wargaming, and more, Singapore is establishing itself as a formidable base for video game development of all sizes and budgets.
.gif)
.svg)