Egyptian game studio shows Africa’s growing power in global gaming
Cairo developer secures $300,000 investment after completing Saudi Arabia’s EXEL Gaming Accelerator.
Egypt.- Egypt is making waves in the global gaming industry as Cairo-based developer Rojeh Maher secures a $300,000 investment from Merak Capital, an investment firm supporting startups and emerging companies.
This follows his completion of Saudi Arabia’s EXEL Gaming Accelerator, a program providing mentorship, guidance and funding for emerging studios, underscoring Africa’s growing impact on the global gaming stage.
The studio is gaining attention for its use of hand-drawn 2D animation and narrative-driven gameplay. It first gained recognition with its mobile game, ‘Panda Food Business’, but its upcoming releases mark a bold new step.
‘Charlie’s Nightmare’, a premium PC and console action-adventure game featuring close-range combat and a story-driven experience, and ‘Fashion Startup Idle’, a business simulation that takes players from cotton farms to fashion retail, are both scheduled for launch in January 2026. These titles are designed to appeal to audiences across Africa and beyond.
“Completing EXEL and presenting my studio among 17 startups in its first cohort has been the best time of my career,” said Maher. “The mentorship from Alexander Poysky, Aitor Lozano and the Merak team unlocked a whole new level for our games and our vision.”
From Egypt to the world
The studio operates remotely, enabling it to collaborate with talent across Africa. This cross-border approach reflects the growing connections between African developers who are increasingly working together to push the continent into the global spotlight.
Five years ago, Rojeh Maher quit his previous career to launch a game development studio. Today, the studio is backed by international investors and guided by experienced industry mentors, signalling a major milestone for African game development.
The new investment will support team expansion, platform diversification and the move from mobile into premium PC and console titles.
Maher’s success is more than a personal milestone. It reflects the rise of Egyptian and African game studios on the global stage, demonstrating that the continent’s talent is ready to compete internationally.
