Sonic the Hedgehog and Qatar: two proper nouns you don’t often see paired together.
But following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between video game publisher Sega and government-established entertainment hub Media City Qatar, they could be a match made in heaven.
Following the explosive Saudi Arabia-led acquisition of video game giant Electronic Arts, the agreement between Sega and Qatar is another sign that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are poised to become an increasingly influential industrial center of gravity. It’s also likely good news for Arabic linguists — a part of the agreement will see more Sega titles localized for Arabic audiences, according to PocketGamer.
“This agreement with SEGA marks a pivotal step in building Qatar’s gaming ecosystem at a time when the industry in our region is projected to reach $6.8 billion by 2030," said Media City Qatar CEO Engineer Jassim Mohamed al-Khori in a press release. “With over 420 million native Arabic speakers worldwide, yet only 3% of online content is produced in Arabic, there is a clear opportunity to create and localise games that reflect our language and culture.”
“By combining SEGA’s expertise with Media City Qatar’s platform, we can bring more relevant experiences to Arab players. These efforts are fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, ensuring that the creative industries continue to drive innovation, cultural expression, and economic diversification,” he added.
The MOU is a wide-ranging agreement that will deepen the GCC’s connection to the gaming world. Beyond simply localizing more Sega titles into Arabic, it will also see the video game publisher produce more original games designed for Arabic-audience appeal. These titles will utilize local talent for development, bringing an increasingly strong Arabic voice to Sega’s franchise portfolio.
“We are pleased to be working with Media City Qatar to look into new opportunities to bring our content closer to players in Qatar and the Arab world,” Sega president and COO Shuji Utsumi said in a press release. “Through this collaboration, we aim to understand how we might contribute to the vibrant gaming culture that is taking shape in one of the world’s most dynamic gaming markets.”
It’s an enormous opportunity for Qatar to cultivate its local video game industry. According to Gulf Times, a part of the agreement will cultivate the country’s professional talent through programs, school initiatives, and workshops, building up the institutional knowledge that helps local game development thrive. And that includes language professionals, who will be instrumental in localizing voice overs, subtitles, user interface assets, and more for upcoming Sega games.
Sega itself represents another major partner for the GCC region, too. Hot on the heels of the Saudi-led acquisition of Electronic Arts, which controls mega-sellers like EA Sports titles, The Sims, Need for Speed, Battlefield, and more, the Sega agreement ensures that Sonic the Hedgehog, Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, Yakuza, and many other franchises will receive increased attention for Arabic-speaking gamers.
It’s also another windfall for the GCC’s goal of increased influence in the video game industry, considered by most analysts to be the largest entertainment industry in the world. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic revitalization plans highlight video games as a particularly attractive investment opportunity.
“It's Saudi Arabia buying time, talent, and cultural clout in one shot," Joost van Dreunen, games professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, told Reuters regarding Saudi Arabia’s Electronic Arts investment. "It puts a trophy IP house at the tip of the Saudi Vision 2030 spear, backed by a government that has earmarked $38 billion for games and sees interactive entertainment as both soft power and long-run monetization."