Saudi Developer Ash Games Secures $1.5M for Global Expansion

Saudi game developer Ash Games has secured US$1.5 million from Merak Capital and Impact46 to develop culturally inspired games for global audiences.

Founded by Anas Bakhsh, Yaser Alahmadi, and Saud Bakolka, Ash Games develops action-adventure titles for PC and consoles that draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia's history, folklore, and cultural heritage. The studio aims to combine high-quality gameplay with authentic regional storytelling, creating original intellectual property that can compete in international markets while showcasing Saudi culture.

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Its flagship title, Nomad, is an action-adventure roguelite inspired by the mythology of Ancient Arabia. Scheduled for release in 2027, the game is being developed for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The studio has also introduced Azooma Escape, a stealth-comedy game inspired by everyday Saudi life, reflecting its strategy of creating culturally rooted entertainment experiences across multiple genres.

Ash Games plans to use the new capital to strengthen its development capabilities, expand its remote-first team, and accelerate production across its portfolio. The investment will also help the company scale its publishing and commercialization efforts as it prepares to launch its games internationally.

The studio currently operates with a team of 18 employees and intends to grow its workforce as development progresses. By investing in talent, technology, and production infrastructure, Ash Games aims to position itself among the region's leading independent game developers.

The investment comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to build a globally competitive gaming ecosystem under Vision 2030. The Kingdom has made gaming a strategic sector within its digital economy, supporting startups, esports organizations, developers, publishers, and gaming infrastructure through dedicated funding initiatives and industry partnerships.

As demand for original gaming content continues to rise worldwide, investors are increasingly backing studios capable of creating proprietary intellectual property with long-term commercial potential. Successful gaming franchises can generate revenue beyond game sales through downloadable content, merchandising, licensing, and entertainment partnerships.

For Saudi Arabia, supporting studios such as Ash Games also contributes to broader economic diversification goals by creating high-skilled jobs across software engineering, animation, digital art, storytelling, and interactive media.

With fresh capital secured, Ash Games will now focus on advancing the development of Nomad and expanding its production capabilities ahead of its planned 2027 launch. The studio's ability to successfully deliver internationally competitive titles will be closely watched as Saudi Arabia seeks to establish itself as a leading center for game development and digital entertainment in the Middle East.

Why Studio Ash Games Matters to the GCC

The funding highlights the GCC's growing ambition to become not just a consumer of games, but a global producer of gaming intellectual property (IP). Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in game development, esports, and digital entertainment as part of its economic diversification strategy, and Ash Games represents the next generation of regional studios building original content with international appeal.

For the wider GCC, the investment demonstrates increasing venture capital confidence in the creative economy, particularly gaming, a sector expected to generate significant economic value, high-skilled jobs, and export revenues. It also signals a shift toward supporting locally developed IP rooted in Gulf culture and heritage, helping diversify the region's digital economy while creating opportunities for publishers, animation studios, technology providers, and gaming startups across the GCC.

If successful, Ash Games could encourage more regional investors to back game development studios, strengthening the GCC's position as an emerging hub for gaming innovation and digital content creation.