It was an encouraging moment for the rapidly evolving gaming industry in Bahrain as the Kingdom’s homegrown e-Sports organizer Atyaf e-Sports made a mark at the recently conducted Play Expo (Playx4), an international gaming exhibition held annually in South Korea.
Atyaf hardly needs any introduction to the gaming community in Bahrain. A subsidiary of technology investment group, T.I.G. Holdings, the company has established itself as a leading e-Sports provider not just in Bahrain, but in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Besides emerging as a leading industry player within its relatively short span of existence, the company is also focusing on identifying, coaching, and developing regional talents with the potential to make it big in the global e-Sports scene.
As for Play Expo, the event is a popular destination for gaming companies across the world to demonstrate their latest releases and forthcoming titles. The event also attracts gamers who come to participate in tournaments and network with the rest of the community.
This year’s edition marked the 10th anniversary of Play Expo, and the event attracted more than 190 game developers including many startups and SMEs. Additionally, there were more than 110 investors and publishers who came to spot emerging talents and expand their network.
What made the event even more special for Atyaf e-Sports is the fact that the company was invited as a representative of the Arab gaming industry. Among other perks, this new development is also expected to help the gaming industries in both Bahrain and Korea take their relationship to the next level.
Speaking of their experience at Playx4, Noof Abdulla, Marketing Manager of Atyaf, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our stay. We were particularly impressed by the great infrastructures and facilities creatives and developers enjoy there. We really look forward to bring more Korean games and culture to the Middle East.”. She also added that Bahrain has all the potential to emerge an e-Sports hub not just in MENA, but across the world.