Game by CODE: Saudi Youth Enter the Gaming Industry

Saudi Arabia is backing young game developers through Game by CODE, a free three-month incubator run by the Center of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE) under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The program targets university students, young entrepreneurs, and game developers, helping them enter the gaming industry and grow their digital entrepreneurship skills.

The most recently documented cohort ran from October 2025 to January 2026 across three cities — Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Jeddah, and Al Hofuf — where workshops and mentorship were delivered in person. Registration opened on 4 September 2025 and closed on 30 September 2025, accepted applicants were announced on 14 October 2025, and the incubator launched on 15 October 2025.

Participation carries no fees. Teams work together to build games from concept to launch, supported by specialized workshops in game art, programming, design, and entrepreneurship, along with structured mentorship hours. At the end of the incubation period, teams present their games in a showcase to industry experts and investors, where standout teams are recognized.

The top team from each city earns a place in the Mvplab program, an associated product of the National Technology Development Program, gaining extra support to turn their game into a commercially viable product. Registration and details are handled through the official CODE website.

For the community, the program offers a practical, cost-free path for young talent to break into a fast-growing sector. As of 2026, Game by CODE itself is listed as closed, while the main ongoing youth-focused initiative under CODE is the Code Nine66 game jam and incubator, running September 2026 to January 2027 in Jeddah, also free and open to Saudi citizens aged 18 and above for in-person game development.

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