Once again, Fifa is destined to be one of the talking points, largely because the latest edition, FIFA 13 – due out next week – has gone one step further by adding the Saudi Pro League in the game, giving players the chance to control the likes of Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Al Ittihad. Initial shots also show that the Al Hilal star Abdulaziz Al Dosari is set to grace the game’s cover alongside Lionel Messi and the Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. Both the growth of the annual Games event and Fifa’s Arabic content are just two examples of how video gaming across the Middle East has developed. The industry as a whole across the world has been progressing steadily – with some estimates suggesting that it’ll be worth around US$70 billion (Dh257bn) by 2015 and big name franchises such as Activision’s Call of Duty series regularly raking in more than Hollywood blockbusters. But the fact that the likes of Electronic Arts is now introducing Saudi players shows that big developers aren’t simply throwing their marketing budgets on the region to improve sales, and are actually making content specifically aimed at local gamers.

"Once again, Fifa is destined to be one of the talking points, largely because the latest edition, FIFA 13 - due out next week - has gone one step further by adding the Saudi Pro League in the game, giving players the chance to control the likes of Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Al Ittihad. Initial shots also show that the Al Hilal star Abdulaziz Al Dosari is set to grace the game's cover alongside Lionel Messi and the Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. Both the growth of the annual Games event and Fifa's Arabic content are just two examples of how video gaming across the Middle East has developed. The industry as a whole across the world has been progressing steadily - with some estimates suggesting that it'll be worth around US$70 billion (Dh257bn) by 2015 and big name franchises such as Activision's Call of Duty series regularly raking in more than Hollywood blockbusters. But the fact that the likes of Electronic Arts is now introducing Saudi players shows that big developers aren't simply throwing their marketing budgets on the region to improve sales, and are actually making content specifically aimed at local gamers."

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