Feb 04, 2026

Gaming+ Expands Its Impact in Its Second Edition

Building on the success of its inaugural edition, KFUPM Gaming+ returned for its second edition from 28 to 31 January 2026 at KFUPM, reinforcing its position as a leading professional gaming event in the region and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Hosted across multiple campus venues, including the King Fahd Conference Center, Exhibition Center, and The Square, KFUPM Gaming+ delivered an integrated, large-scale experience spanning six core tracks: Game Development, Esports, Content Creation, Research & Innovation, Cultural Heritage, and Entrepreneurship. Organized by more than 110 students, the event attracted over 6,000 visitors and brought together students, professionals, researchers, content creators, and industry leaders in an immersive, gamified environment designed to nurture skills, spark innovation, and strengthen the national gaming ecosystem.

The program featured a diverse and intensive agenda, including 10 workshops, more than 30 talks, 17 panel discussions, and multiple hackathons, offering participants hands-on learning opportunities and in-depth industry engagement. Entrepreneurship played a central role in the event, highlighted by a dedicated hackathon that brought together 22 teams. Over an intensive 72-hour collaboration period, participants developed 16 game concepts, many of which demonstrated clear potential as minimum viable products for future commercialization.

With the support of the KFUPM Fund, sponsors, and partners, KFUPM Gaming+ showcased the university’s strong commitment to student leadership, innovation, and experiential learning. The event reflected the students’ high aspirations and self-reliance—core principles of their 7 Habits—and marked a clear step forward in scale, scope, and overall impact. By empowering students to lead every stage of planning and execution, the event continues to serve as a catalyst for the future of gaming in Saudi Arabia—bridging creativity, technology, culture, and entrepreneurship while delivering meaningful, real-world impact.