Ash Games Raises US$1.5M Seed Round to Bring Saudi Games to Global Players

Ash Games team: Anas Bakhsh (CEO), Saud Bakolka (CTO), and Yaser Alahmadi (CCO)

Saudi game development studio Ash Games has raised US$1.5 million in Seed funding in a round co-led by Merak Capital and Impact46 through the Merak Gaming Fund. The investment will accelerate the development and international launch of the studio's culturally inspired video games, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leading gaming and entertainment hub under Vision 2030.

The funding comes as Saudi Arabia continues investing heavily in its digital entertainment sector. The Kingdom aims to establish itself as a global gaming destination through initiatives led by the Savvy Games Group, the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, and investment platforms supporting local intellectual property. Venture capital firms including Merak Capital and Impact46 have increasingly backed domestic gaming startups as investor interest in the sector continues to grow across the Middle East.

Why Did Ash Games Raise New Funding?

The Seed capital will enable Ash Games to:

• Expand its game development team.
• Accelerate production of upcoming titles.
• Strengthen international publishing partnerships.
• Scale commercialization and global distribution.
• Build long-term Saudi-owned gaming intellectual property (IP).

Operating with a remote-first team of 18 employees as of 2026, the studio plans to increase production capacity while reaching players across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Who Is Behind Ash Games?

Founded by Anas Bakhsh, Yaser Alahmadi, and Saud Bakolka, Ash Games develops action-adventure titles for PC and consoles inspired by Saudi Arabia's history, mythology, and everyday culture.

Rather than adapting existing international franchises, the studio focuses on creating original IP rooted in authentic regional storytelling. This strategy aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader objective of exporting locally created creative content while expanding its digital economy.

What Games Is Ash Games Developing?

Ash Games is currently developing multiple original titles designed for international audiences.

Game	Genre	Inspiration	Planned Platform	Expected Launch
Nomad	Action-adventure roguelite	Ancient Arabian mythology	PC, PlayStation, Xbox	2027
Azooma Escape	Stealth-comedy	Everyday Saudi life and culture	TBA	In development

Its flagship title, Nomad, blends roguelite gameplay with mythology from Ancient Arabia, while Azooma Escape offers a lighter stealth-comedy experience inspired by everyday life in Saudi Arabia. Together, the titles reflect the studio's strategy of transforming regional stories into globally accessible entertainment.

How Does This Investment Support Saudi Arabia's Gaming Industry?

Ash Games' funding reflects broader momentum within Saudi Arabia's rapidly expanding gaming sector.

The Kingdom's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in 2022, targets the creation of 39,000 gaming-related jobs and aims to increase the gaming sector's contribution to Saudi GDP by approximately US$13.3 billion by 2030. Public and private investments—including initiatives backed by Savvy Games Group, Merak Capital, and Impact46—are accelerating the growth of local studios capable of competing internationally.

The funding also complements Saudi Arabia's wider innovation ecosystem, alongside technology hubs and investment initiatives such as NEOM, Misk Foundation, and startup support programs that encourage the commercialization of homegrown digital products.

As demand for culturally diverse content continues to rise worldwide, studios like Ash Games are positioning Saudi-developed intellectual property as a new export category within the Kingdom's creative economy.

Looking Ahead

With fresh Seed funding, a growing development team, and an expanding portfolio of original titles, Ash Games is well positioned to introduce Saudi storytelling to global gaming audiences. As investment in gaming infrastructure and local content creation accelerates, the studio represents a new generation of developers helping establish Saudi Arabia as a regional center for game development and interactive entertainment.

 

 

FAQs

1. What is Ash Games?
Ash Games is a Saudi Arabian game development studio founded by Anas Bakhsh, Yaser Alahmadi, and Saud Bakolka. The company develops original action-adventure games inspired by Saudi history, mythology, and culture for global PC and console players.

2. How much funding did Ash Games raise?
Ash Games raised US$1.5 million in a Seed funding round co-led by Merak Capital and Impact46 through the Merak Gaming Fund in 2026.

3. What will the funding be used for?
The investment will help Ash Games expand its development team, accelerate game production, strengthen international publishing partnerships, and commercialize its original gaming intellectual property worldwide.

4. What is Nomad?
Nomad is Ash Games' flagship action-adventure roguelite inspired by Ancient Arabian mythology. The game is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in 2027.

5. Why is this investment significant for Saudi Arabia?
The funding supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy of building a globally competitive gaming industry, increasing local game development, and expanding the Kingdom's creative digital economy through original intellectual property.