UMX Studio, one of the top mobile game developers in the MENA region has secured $4.5 million (about Rs 37.8 crore) from Jetapult, the world’s first Invest & Operate (I&O) model for gaming studios and backed by Accel and other key partners.
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This investment marks a major step forward for UMX Studio team, empowering us to continue developing more games its players love and take our games to the next level.
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UMX Studio games offer players more than just entertainment—they provide dynamic environments where they can compete, connect, and enjoy. From the fast-paced action in King of Steering (ملك الطاره) to the adrenaline-filled off-road racing in Climbing Sand Dune, our games bring a fresh experience to mobile gamers everywhere.
“This is part of Jetapult’s broader plan to invest in a diverse portfolio of gaming studios in emerging markets and that is where the growth continues to be, especially in the gaming industry,” Tulsiani, who previously led gaming at Google Play Asia – India and ANZ markets, told ET.
In addition to obtaining shares, Jetapult will supply funding for UMX Studio to develop games in untapped genres, broaden its user base internationally, and enhance its current portfolio. According to senior executives, Jetapult’s team of gaming experts will also assist UMX Studio with improving user acquisition, scaling monetization initiatives, and implementing artificial intelligence and advanced analytics technologies.
“Our focus is to have a portfolio of companies targeting high average revenue per user markets globally, and the Middle East is an upcoming hub. UMX is one of the first players to come out of that market and to build very strong culturally resonating games for that particular audience. We believe that adding more titles and genres under a cohesive umbrella of companies will make sense for the next five to seven years,” said Baid.
About UMX Studio
UMX Studio is one of the top mobile game developers in the MENA region, known for creating exciting and engaging gaming experiences. Our journey started in 2014 with the release of Climbing Sand Dune (كنق التطعيس), a game that quickly became a hit, reaching the top of the App Store and Play Store charts within just 12 hours. This marked the beginning of our mission to push the limits of mobile gaming.
Since then, UMX Studio has continued to grow, with more than 70 million downloads and 2.7 million monthly active users worldwide. Our game Drift X (هجوله ملك) smashed expectations, achieving over 200K downloads in less than 24 hours, ranking at the top of overall charts in 3 countries, top games in 7 countries, and dominating the top racing charts in 15 countries.
About Jetapult
Jetapult aims to fill the paucity of operator-first capital in the gaming industry, investing money and building a support ecosystem with the exclusive intention of scaling profitable mobile game studios in emerging markets.
Collaborating with industry veterans from Zynga to Bethesda, Jetapult brings in development and UA capital, proven scale frameworks, hands-on expertise, operational support and business guidance, and global opportunities to provide studios a means to scientifically and inorganically scale their games, teams, and ambitions.
The venture is spearheaded by Sharan Tulsiani, former head of Google Play Games IN & ANZ, and Yash Baid, former Principal at 3one4 Capital. Jetapult is backed by prominent investors such as Accel, Fireside, JetSynthesys, amongst others.
