Red Bull and Exel launch Win Win contest for Saudi student game developers
The aim is to take a game from idea to playable
Red Bull and Exel by Merak have launched the Win Win Initiative, a contest that puts two Saudi university students through Exel's gaming accelerator to build a game from scratch.
One student from King Saud University and one from Alfaisal University will each develop a game over three weeks. Both join the accelerator for mentorship from games industry experts and hands-on sessions on product, design and business.
They also work alongside the startups and founders already in the programme. Exel said the aim is to take a game from idea to playable.
Demo Day and the prize
The two games will be shown at Exel by Merak Demo Day on November 23rd, where attendees play, test, and judge them. A tournament between the universities follows with both games played live on campus.
The winner receives a fully covered trip to Gamescom 2027 in Germany and a fast track into the Exel Gaming Accelerator with investment of up to $300,000. Exel noted that the fast track does not guarantee acceptance and entry stays subject to its selection process.
Exel is backed by Merak Capital's $80 million gaming fund and offers selected studios up to $300,000 each, split between cash and in-kind support. It is also holding a community playtest day in Riyadh on November 10th.
