Unleashing the power of Gaming for economic, cultural, and technological Impact

• HP, AMD, and Saudi Electronic University partner to bring HP Gaming Garage to local tech talent
• The HP Gaming Garage Lab supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global hub for gaming
• Game development is now a $300bn sector^[1] that offers promising careers for young people interested in technology

RIYADH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., June 13, 2024 – HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announces the launch of its ‘HP Gaming Garage Lab’ at the Saudi Electronic University (SEU), based at the campus in Riyadh. The new lab at SEU offers students a chance to explore and develop skills in Esports Management and Game Development, prepping them for careers in the Media, ICT and Esports industries.

HP Gaming Garage is an initiative that promotes and encourages learners worldwide to gain the skills needed to enter the gaming and Esports industries. HP’s support includes the online Gaming Garage education course platform and, in collaboration with AMD, equipping the new lab at SEU with the latest generation OMEN and HyperX devices. 

HP Gaming Garage offers an equal chance to excel

The launch of the HP Gaming Garage Lab included presentations from HP, SEU, and AMD that reaffirmed the mission of the new lab. Commenting at the launch today, Fadle Saad, MD Saudi Arabia at HP, said: ” We are proud to launch the new HP Gaming Garage Lab to support KSA’s vision to become a hub for gaming excellence. At HP, we believe equitable access to education for young people is key to digital equity. The free Game Development and Esports Management courses available through the HP Gaming Garage curriculum provide a platform for all to enhance their skills and thrive in the digital economy”.

The HP Gaming Garage Lab opening will bolster KSA’s goal to become a leading global hub for gaming and esports by 2030, which could create over 35,000 jobs and contribute $13.3bn to the nation’s economy. The Saudi Esports Federation also aims to have 250 gaming companies in the kingdom by 2030 and create more than 30 game titles among the top 300 globally by 2031.^[2]

Advancing Saudi gaming goals

The gaming sector has experienced unprecedented global growth over the past decade and has transformed into a mainstream entertainment industry with significant economic, cultural, and technological influence. On PC, the estimated number of players worldwide will reach 909 million in 2026 – the largest segment ahead of the console by 33%.[3]  Gaming now presents a wealth of opportunities for youth employment and can catalyze economic development, skill acquisition, and innovation.

With the cutting-edge gaming devices available on-site, the newly opened HP Gaming Garage Lab can be the starting point for Saudi’s next generation of game development talent. Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader at HP, said: “Upskilling the next generation of game developers and Esports leaders is a mission that we at HP are thrilled to bring to KSA. With 23.5 million gaming enthusiasts in the Kingdom,^[4] the potential for the country’s youth to turn that passion into fruitful careers is hugely exciting”.

Dr Mohammad Yahya Mardi, President at Saudi Electronic University, said: “This partnership will give a powerful boost to our aim of providing the kingdom with a skilled cohort of gaming and Esports industry developers. It will allow us to significantly support the Saudi national vision of becoming a global hub for game development.”   

Cutting-edge tech for tomorrow’s creators

HP’s commitment to the new HP Gaming Garage Lab includes the provision of products from its two leading gaming brands, OMEN and HyperX. These devices, built for all gamers, include OMEN 16 laptops, OMEN 27″ HD Gaming Monitors, and HyperX Cloud III Wireless Headsets. The OMEN 16 laptops are powered by AMD’s Ryzen 9 6000 CPU series, and the company is also providing support for the HP Gaming Garage Lab launch. 

James Blackman, Director of EMEA at AMD, said: “As AMD celebrates its 55th anniversary, our commitment to advancing educational technologies remains strong. Integrating technology in education enhances student-centered learning and enriches educational environments. We’re proud to partner with HP and SEU to launch the latest HP Gaming Garage Lab, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s dedication to gaming and education. AMD continues innovating processor technology, creating faster, more efficient, and high-performing processors. These advancements are set to transform educational practices, redefining the teaching and learning landscape.”

Sparking creativity in Saudi’s next generation 

HP’s dedication to nurturing Saudi game development talent has already been evidenced by the KSA GameOn with HP Gaming Garage challenge, in which aspiring developer teams create their unique games in an ongoing hackathon. The GameOn hackathon began on World Heritage Day (April 18th), and participants were challenged to develop a game prototype on the theme of culture and heritage. The incubation phase will culminate with announcing the best team project on Thursday, June 13th, at the Saudi Electronic University. 

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^[1] PWC: Perspectives from the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2023–2027

^[2] CNN: Taking hold of the controls

^[3] Newzoo: PC & Console Gaming Report 2024 | The report is now live! (newzoo.com)

^[4] Gulf News: At Gamers8, Saudi Arabia and its esports fans will be out to grab some serious attention