Saudi Arabia and Japan firms to publish new Dynasty Warriors game in MENA

Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has partnered with a Japanese developer to publish “Dynasty Warriors: Origins” in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The game, developed by Koei Tecmo and set to launch on 17 January, 2025, will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Manga Productions will localise the game for Arabic-speaking audiences, involve Saudi talent and manage regional marketing and publishing, reports the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The game takes players into the mythical world of the Three Kingdoms of ancient China, appealing to both new and long-time fans.

لعبة DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS قادمة! 🤩
لقطات من حفل توقيع اتفاقية نشر وتوزيع مع شركة “كوي تيكمو” 📸✨#مانجا_للإنتاج pic.twitter.com/GhO2sp3Zcc

— مانجا للإنتاج Manga Productions (@manga_prd) November 25, 2024

“Saudi Arabia and the MENA region are among the fastest-growing game markets globally,” said Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions. “We’re excited to partner with Koei Tecmo to publish this AAA game and invest in Saudi talent to further develop the gaming and creative industries in the region.”

Koei Tecmo President Hisashi Koinuma emphasised the delivery of a fully localised experience for regional gamers.

This collaboration is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to position itself as a regional gaming hub, with recent investments aiming to make it a leader in the global gaming market. Earlier this year the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) increased its investment in Koei Tecmo, raising its share from 5.56 per cent to 6.6 per cent. However, last month, the PIF reduced its stake in Japanese video game giant Nintendo to 7.54 per cent from a previous 8.58 per cent.

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