Red Bull & Exel by Merak Power Saudi Arabia’s Next Generation ofGame Developers Ahead of ‘Red Bull Win Win’ Demo Day
Two aspiring game developers are bringing their ideas to life ahead of Red
Bull Win Win Demo Day on 23 November
Built by students, tested by gamers: player votes will help determine which
developer takes home the top prize
Following an intensive development programme delivered with Exel by Merak,
the winner will receive continued mentorship and a fully sponsored trip to
Gamescom Cologne in 2027.
Two aspiring game developers in SaudiArabia are turning their ideas into playable experiences as Red Bull Win Win,delivered in strategic venture partnership with Exel by Merak, gears up for DemoDay on 23 November. Aligned with the ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s National Gamingand Esports Strategy, the initiative supports emerging local talent and the growth ofthe Kingdom’s gaming sector. After weeks of mentorship, workshops and hands-ondevelopment, the participants are putting the finishing touches to their games aheadof their first major showcase, before gamers get the chance to put their creations tothe test.The two developers, Sayil Alyami, a Business student at King Saud University, andReem Almusained, a Software Engineering student at Alfaisal University, aredeveloping Kitchen Wars and Fractured Reality, respectively.Created to discover and support the next generation of game developers in SaudiArabia, Red Bull Win Win is a two-month programme that brings together universitytalent, experienced mentors and gaming industry experts. Delivered in partnershipwith Exel by Merak, a Riyadh-based innovation and startup accelerator platform. Itprovides participants with the guidance, tools and industry connections to developtheir technical and creative skills while building their games.Following the accelerator phase, which ran from 27 September to 15 October, thedevelopers are continuing to refine their projects in preparation for Demo Day. On 23November, they will showcase their games live at Red Bull’s booth to studentgamers, industry partners and investors, marking an important milestone in theirjourney from initial concept to playable experience.But the real test comes when the games reach the players.Following Demo Day, Red Bull Win Win will take the competition to Al FaisalUniversity and King Saud University, where student gamers will play and test thedevelopers’ creations in a competitive tournament format.In a format that puts the player experience at the heart of the competition, gamerswill have a say in determining the winner, with their votes contributing alongsidejudges’ scores. The challenge for the developers is not simply to create a game, butto build one that connects with the people playing it.
The winning participant or team will receive continued mentorship from Exel by
Merak and the opportunity to join its Accelerator, alongside a fully sponsored trip to
Gamescom Cologne in 2027. One of the world’s largest gaming events, Gamescom
brings together developers, publishers, studios, investors and industry leaders,
offering the winner an opportunity to connect with the international gaming
community.
Through its partnership with Exel by Merak, Red Bull Win Win aims to support
emerging Saudi talent by connecting creative ideas with practical experience,
industry expertise and opportunities to grow within the gaming sector.
