Undoubtedly, the Middle East is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets. In fact, esports has taken over the Middle East, and people are getting more and more hooked to video games and virtual reality games. This has been largely due to the fact that the pandemic has locked down the country, hence people are spending more and more time indoors. But why would esports developments in the Middle East’s esports scene interest you?
To put it simply, the region is exhibiting a renaissance in competitive video gaming. For years, some of the best FIFA and Dota 2 players have come from the region, and they have reinforced rosters in the West, including at some of the best North American and European teams. Today, Middle East players in competitive video gaming are far more skilled than originally anticipated. Events are already streaming in the region with the ESL Pro League Invitational hosting an event in 2015 worth $250,000. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s mobile gaming market is already worth half a billion, and the effects can be felt in the west.
Today, we are witnessing a growing number of active gamers in the Middle East, and a large number of purchases when it comes to gaming consoles. Right now, we are witnessing the next generation of gaming consoles being released worldwide. This new range comes with great processing power, high-quality graphics, as well as a plethora of games. Recently, we saw the release of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which are two of the most powerful consoles right now. Below, we look at the best gaming platforms for Middle Eastern gamers and share a few of the most played games in the Middle East.
Best Gaming Platforms 2021
To get the best out of gaming, as well as enhance your overall gaming experience, you will need to make sure that you use the best platform. Without wasting much time, let us list some of the best platforms for gaming, and please note, these are all available in the Middle East.
1. Desktop Computers
Desktop computers are clearly one of the most popular forms of gaming in the Middle East. Everyone these days can afford to own one, and some of the best games are no longer as power-hungry as they were in the past. In fact, many companies around the world, including Microsoft, have created “virtual computing services” that allow you to connect to a platform and pick a game to play.
In fact, as long as you have a stable Internet connection, services such as Stadia will carry the load of the actual gameplay, meaning that you can access your favorite titles from even a slow PC or a tablet. This is how online slots games work in practice. So long as your internet connection is reliable, you can play from a computer with any technical specs. Even when a game requires a little more in the way of hardware, Middle Eastern players seem keen to pay for that as well!
2.      PlayStation 5
This console has quickly grown to be a favorite among many gamers. This is because it comes with lightning-fast load speeds. Not only that, but it also features a great lineup of titles such as Demon’s Souls, Halo Infinite, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Medium, and more.  The interface is user-friendly and installation is very simple as this is a plug-and-play platform. What’s even more exciting is the fact that the console is Backward Compatible. Because of that, players will be able to find most PS4 games. That means you will not miss any of the action that is available on the PS4.
Fortunately, the new PS5 comes with new a DualSense controller, which is a bit lighter than the DualShock 4. The advantage of that is that it has refined haptic feedback. On top of that, it incorporated the precise sense of touch, which means you do not have to struggle to do things like busting down a locked door or pulling back a bowstring.  The fast processing speed is made possible by the AMD chips that are on the board, as well as in 8-core CPU. In fact, the process provides 10.28 teraflops of power, and as if that wasn’t enough, there is advanced lighting in games, all thanks to the support of resource-intensive processes like Ray tracing. That’s not all, though! The PS5 has a 4K Blu-ray player.
3.      Xbox Series X
This platform offers the best visual fidelity and is definitely the most powerful Xbox right now. This is definitely a tech powerhouse, featuring 12 TFLOPS of power. Not only that, but you get 8 times more graphical performance than the original Xbox One.  You’re guaranteed to get a low-latency mode. This is responsible for allowing better responses out of your games. With 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, you will definitely get Variable Rate Shading technology, as well as a variable refresh rate.
The most popular titles on the platform right now include NBA 2K21 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Also, players can look forward to great new releases that are coming later in the year and early next year. Just as an extra, the good news is that all the games from the previous Xbox versions are available on this platform.
4.      Nintendo Switch Lite
This gaming console is definitely cheaper than its counterpart, the Nintendo switch. The platform is definitely perfect for those that prefer playing in handheld mode. And, the great news is that it’s a bit cheaper than its predecessor.  Although it does not have television docking support, its small size is perfect and fans really appreciate the battery life, which is slightly better than the Switch console.  Players can access great games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as well as Pokemon Sword and Shield. As mentioned earlier, this is definitely a compact console, coming in at 9.7 ounces. You will also notice that the button layout has been slightly altered, but it still remains very easy to navigate and incredibly comfortable.
5. Mobile
Just like anywhere else, mobile platforms are very popular and the Middle East is standing on top of a $2 billion mobile gaming industry. That is more than the esports industry today, which is evaluated at barely $1 billion. Mobile gaming titles such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Honor of Kings, Wild Rift, and others are really sending ripples in the Middle East region, and mobile gaming is indeed picking up!
Conclusion
Video gaming has taken over the world, and the Middle East has not been left behind. Listed above are some of the best gaming platforms on the market that you will find. If you’re not playing your favorite online slots, make sure you try one or two of the best games that are available on the above-listed platforms.
