With gaming audiences growing at record speed across the region, almost rivalling social media in size and engagement, brands have jumped in to leverage the trend with Fortnite concerts, in-game brand collabs and more.
With gaming becoming a bigger part of digital culture, we asked a cross-section of the industry if a gaming strategy will soon become as critical as a social media strategy in the media and marketing mix?
Here’s what the experts had to say:
Rony Skaf
Executive Digital Director, TBWA\RAAD
YES
Can brands afford to ignore 70.7 million prospects – the 92 per cent of under-30s in the UAE, KSA and Egypt? Gaming is growing fast, up 3.3 per cent year-on-year among youth. But here’s the catch: the right strategy isn’t about ad placements inside games. Brands need to look for ways to enhance the gaming experience, just like KFC did with their ‘Bribe Bucket’ in Call of Duty or their GameChangers initiative supporting female gamers in Saudi. As audiences move from passive scrolling to immersive play, gaming strategies will be key to unlocking new, innovative brand spaces.
Alex Simonian
Managing Director, Another in Kingdom
YES
Gaming is no longer just entertainment – it’s become a cultural force equalling social media in audience size and engagement. While many brand integrations today are still surface-level, pioneers like Orange Telecom’s GTA collaboration show the incredible potential for deeper engagement. The future in my opinion is very exciting and lies in seamless brand-gamer interactions, where brands go beyond traditional sponsorships or ‘implanted presence’ to designed experiences within gaming ecosystems.
Instead of piggybacking on existing platforms, brands will create immersive, interactive spaces that feel organic to the gaming world – building lasting connections with players.
Rey Sawan
Regional Marketing Manager – Brand, Samsung Electronics – MENAT
NO
The sensational sells. That’s why Sports Illustrated covers still promise ‘10 New Secrets to 6-Pack Abs’ every month, why our slides centre around graphs that point up or down instead of staying flat, and why gaming has been ‘on the rise’ in digital culture for decades.
Our marketing strategies don’t need the sensational – they need to be rooted in how we understand humans and the role our products/brands play in their worlds. If gaming, like social, becomes central for all consumers and brands, then please change my answer to yes.
Jack Rogers
Associate Creative Director, Socialize
YES
However, it depends. Does your brand have a strong case to slot in seamlessly? Do you have someone on your team who actually understands the gaming space and gamers? Then, yes.
The hardest part isn’t knowing that your brand should be breaking into the space, it’s trying to sell campaigns to brands whose teams don’t understand the space.
Gamers can immediately sniff out inauthenticity. And coming at them with a catch-all ‘hey, fellow gamers’ approach just doesn’t work.
Still need convincing? Some years, the League of Legends World Championship has clocked more unique viewers than the Superbowl, and we all know how much brands froth over that ad space.
Rabih El Khoury
Managing Partner, Evolution Group
YES
The numbers are too big to ignore. There are 1.5 times more 25 to 34-year-olds playing mobile games than there are on TikTok globally. One-in-four Americans aged more than 50 play mobile games daily. For Gen Alpha, platforms such as Roblox are already the new social media. e-Sports has a fan base of half a billion. The equally critical reasons are superior ad quality metrics (attention, engagement and VCR), higher creative flexibility and storytelling, and tremendous first-mover advantage, especially in the MENA region, in an uncluttered space. Bonus: e-commerce and online-to-footfall are being developed as an integral aspect of this space.
Simon Morehead
Founder, CRATER Global
YES
Gaming is becoming more like social media in that gamers are connecting, communicating, and building communities while they play. It’s more than just about the game, there’s a social layer with online interaction. Gen Zs lead the billions of gamers worldwide, signifying that gaming platforms shouldn’t be overlooked. Whilst there are challenges in data limitations and market competitiveness, the space offers brands immense potential to engage with audiences. I believe just as gaming continues to evolve, so too should a brand’s overall strategy, incorporating gaming into their digital media and marketing – although as with the rules of social media, content needs to be correctly targeted and most importantly remain authentic.
Karim Mroueh
Head of Digital Innovation, Serviceplan Middle East
YES
Indeed, brands will increasingly need a tailored approach to gaming. With in-game advertisements and branding opportunities expanding, gaming is no longer a one-time activation, it is a long-term investment. Different game genres appeal to different audiences and support distinct brand objectives.
Just as social media evolved from a single strategy to platform-specific techniques, gaming now requires specialised methods across genres, platforms and communities. To stay relevant, brands must seamlessly integrate into gaming ecosystems, prioritising interactivity, authenticity and engagement. Those who treat gaming as a consistent channel rather than a publicity stunt will see the greatest impact.
Samer Bahsas
Chief Operating Officer, U-Turn
YES
Gaming strategy is rapidly gaining importance in Saudi Arabia, driven by a combination of a young, tech-savvy population and significant government-backed investments in the gaming sector. As gaming continues to evolve and become more ingrained in Saudi culture, its relevance in the media and marketing mix is set to rival, if not surpass, that of traditional social media strategies.
Saudi Arabia has already hosted major esports events, such as Gamers8 and the Esports World Cup, which grabbed global attention. At UTURN, we had the privilege of being part of the on-ground video coverage for the Esports World Cup last year, witnessing firsthand the engagement of the gaming community. This rapidly changing market offers brands exciting opportunities to integrate into the gaming experience. We’ve noticed a growing interest from our clients to collaborate with gaming influencers, form partnerships with popular games and incorporate branded content within these immersive spaces, encouraging us to boost our investment in gaming content. By doing so, brands can create more personalised, authentic experiences for consumers – something that’s often harder to achieve through traditional social media channels alone.
Mai Youssef
Communications and Corporate Marketing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey
YES
Undoubtedly, a gaming strategy is fast becoming as indispensable as a social media strategy in the modern marketing mix. The gaming industry now rivals social media in audience size and engagement, offering brands a unique opportunity to interact with consumers in immersive and dynamic ways. We recognise the potential of this space, from supporting content creators with advanced imaging solutions to exploring in-game brand integrations. The interactive nature of gaming fosters deep consumer engagement, making it a strategic imperative rather than a niche consideration. As digital culture evolves, brands are incorporating gaming to stay relevant in an increasingly interactive world.
Koji Sekiguchi
Head of Marketing, Sony Middle East and Africa
YES
Gaming is no longer the norm; it’s a cultural and commercial phenomenon redefining how brands interact with consumers. The magnitude, interactivity, and depth of gaming universes rival social media, offering unprecedented potential for storytelling and brand engagement. As gaming redefines interaction, the brands that take the leap now will spearhead the digital revolution tomorrow.
Mustafa Kannas
Communication Manager, Power League Gaming (PLG)
YES
The region is witnessing unprecedented growth in gaming, with audiences reaching social media-like engagement levels. This shift is significant as gaming evolves from mere entertainment to a cultural phenomenon.
Gaming strategies are quickly becoming essential in the marketing mix for several reasons: gaming offers deeper immersion than traditional social platforms; younger demographics increasingly prefer interactive experiences; and in-game collaborations provide unique brand integration opportunities with measurable ROI.
However, gaming strategies won’t fully replace social media strategies but rather complement them. The most effective approach combines both, with gaming offering focused engagement while social media provides a broader reach. For brands looking to remain relevant, incorporating gaming into their marketing strategy is increasingly critical.
Read more such takes from industry experts on other topics here.
