Twofour54 Launches Abu Dhabi Gaming To Advance Esports in UAE
Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 company launched an initiative to boost the gaming and e-sports industry. The program called AD Gaming will be supported by industry players and open job opportunities to local residents.
AD (Abu Dhabi) Gaming, will support game developers, players, consumers and businesses and will be supported by companies such as Unity Technologies, Flash Entertainment, UAE Pro League, Emirates Esports Association and Media Zone Authority.
“The global gaming industry has grown rapidly over the last few years, and this growth has been accelerated by the pandemic,” said Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chief Twofour54.
“AD Gaming will unite the emirate’s existing gaming industry under one strategic brand, and will invest in [membangun] an ecosystem that fosters creativity and sustainable growth.”
The gaming industry – divided into mobile gaming, streaming e-sports, consoles and more – is currently the most profitable form of entertainment in the world.
AD Gaming enables Abu Dhabi to “take advantage of the significant economic and cultural opportunities of the gaming industry”, said James Hartt, Director of Strategy and Business Development for AD Gaming.
The program also pays attention to “long-term impact, creating job opportunities for local talent as well as developing professionals with the skills game companies need to grow their businesses”, he said.
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Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment hub, twofour54, will provide space within the free zone for businesses using gaming, e-sports and virtual reality licenses, as well as subsidies for new partner companies.
Fifteen new gaming and e-sports businesses will join Yas Creative Hub in the free zone when it opens in the fourth quarter of this year. These include the Emirates Esports Association, Boss Bunny, Kashkool Games, Khousouf Games, and RobocomVR, among others.
Yas Creative Hub will feature a purpose-built gaming center, operated in partnership with industry giant Unity Technologies, which will provide a physical home for the gaming industry in Abu Dhabi.
The upcoming Pixel e-sports hub will also house a certified e-sports academy. Courtesy the largest e-sports hub Al QanaAbu Dhabi opens in 2021.
Global gaming market grows 20% to reach $174.9 billion in 2020
Global gaming industry revenue is forecast to reach $217.9 billion by 2023, up nearly 25 percent from $174.9 billion last year, according to a report by Amsterdam-based market research firm Newzoo.
Consumer appetite for gaming increased greatly in 2020 with the creation of new platforms such as Apple’s Arcade and Google Stadia. Gaming has also become more popular after the pandemic restricted people to their homes, industry experts say.
Under the new initiative, Unity Technologies will offer a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ development program that aims to equip teachers with the skills to impart knowledge to their students, develop artificial intelligence, virtual reality, game development and coding skills.
AD Gaming works closely with educational institutions such as University of Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi, College of Technology and University of Sharjah. It will also connect students to gaming and e-sports partners for real-time industry experience.
The initiative will also launch websites for the gaming community including a calendar of e-sports events, a directory for game studios, and an Abu Dhabi-based company. It will also have a dedicated Twitch channel showcasing Abu Dhabi gaming talent.
Abu Dhabi has invested in building a gaming ecosystem. Al Qana, a new waterfront destination, is building the emirate’s largest e-sports and virtual reality gaming complex, Pixel, according to Al Barakah International Investment.
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