Latest news with #EssamBukhary
Broadcast Pro
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Manga Productions partners with SEGA to bring Sonic franchise to MENA
The game debuts with a record 23 characters, with more to be added through ongoing post-launch updates. Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has announced a strategic publishing and distribution agreement with Japanese gaming powerhouse SEGA to bring the Sonic franchise to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The collaboration will see Manga Productions publish SEGA's kart racing title Sonic Racing: Crossworlds in the region. In a statement, the company emphasised that the partnership aims to not only localise and promote the game for regional gamers but also to involve Saudi talent in the publishing and marketing process, supporting the growth of the Kingdom's creative industries. Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said: 'Manga Productions has built strategic partnerships that support the creative content industry in Saudi Arabia and the region. Our collaboration with SEGA brings Sonic Racing: Crossworlds to MENA audiences.' Developed by SEGA's arcade racing team, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds features a gameplay twist where tracks shift into mysterious, unpredictable worlds during the second lap of each race. The title will launch with a record-breaking roster of 23 characters, including iconic guest appearances from characters such as Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5 Royal, Ichiban Kasuga from Like a Dragon, as well as crossover entries from Minecraft and SpongeBob SquarePants. More characters will be added in future updates. The game offers extensive customisation through over 70 'Gadgets' that allow players to tailor their racing strategies with skills and advantages. It also supports cross-play functionality, enabling up to 12 players to compete online in various multiplayer modes.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Manga Productions Partners with SEGA to Publish 'Sonic Racing: Crossworlds' Game in MENA
Manga Productions, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has signed a publishing and distribution agreement with the Japanese gaming giant SEGA to publish the iconic game Sonic in the Middle East and North Africa. CEO of Manga Productions Dr. Essam Bukhary said: 'Manga Productions has built strategic partnerships that support the creative content industry in Saudi Arabia and the region. Our collaboration with SEGA brings 'Sonic Racing: Crossworlds' to MENA audiences.' In a statement on Monday, Manga Productions said it will collaborate with SEGA to publish the game for audiences in the MENA region, providing opportunities for Saudi talents to participate in the publishing process, as well as marketing the game. 'Sonic Racing: Crossworlds' is the next-generation kart racing game developed by SEGA's arcade racing team. Its standout feature is its dynamic track design, where players warp into an unknown world on the second lap of each race, making every race unpredictable and thrilling. With a record-breaking 23 characters available at launch, the roster will continue to expand through post-launch updates, featuring guest appearances from Hatsune Miku, Joker (Persona 5 Royal), Ichiban Kasuga (Like a Dragon), Minecraft, SpongeBob SquarePants, and more. Players can customize their racing strategies using over 70 types of 'Gadgets,' each offering unique skills and advantages. The game also supports cross-play in online multiplayer, allowing up to 12 players to compete in various exciting modes.
Arab News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Manga Productions signs partnership to launch ‘Sonic' game in the Middle East
RIYADH: Manga Productions has signed a publishing and distribution agreement with Japanese company Sega, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The launch highlights the popular game Sonic Racing: Crossworlds in the Middle East and North Africa region. Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), will collaborate with Sega to launch the game for MENA audiences and provide opportunities for Saudi talent to participate in the publishing process, as well as marketing the game. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said that the company has successfully built strategic partnerships contributing to the development of the creative content industry in the Kingdom and the region. The game provides extensive vehicle customization options for appearance and performance, along with items granting special abilities that affect gameplay style. It also supports online multiplayer, allowing players to compete globally, climb leaderboards and earn rewards. The game launches with a record-breaking roster of 23 characters, with plans to expand this number post-launch through continuous updates. These updates will include characters such as Hatsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5 Royal, Ichiban Kasuga from Like a Dragon, plus popular characters from franchises such as Minecraft and SpongeBob SquarePants, among others. Players can customize their strategies using more than 70 types of items, each offering different skills and features. It supports online multiplayer with a co-play feature, allowing up to 12 players to compete in a variety of modes.
Broadcast Pro
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Manga Productions and Koei Tecmo Games partner to publish ‘Nioh 3' in MENA
As part of the collaboration, Manga Productions will oversee Arabic localisation, marketing, and publishing for the Middle East and North Africa region. Manga Productions, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), has partnered with Japan's Koei Tecmo Games to publish the upcoming action RPG Nioh 3 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The game is slated for a global simultaneous release in early 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Steam. Nioh 3 continues the critically acclaimed Nioh series, known for its dark samurai narrative, mythological elements, and punishing combat. Building on a franchise that has sold over 8m units worldwide, the new installment introduces an open field environment and a dual fighting system, enabling players to fluidly switch between 'Samurai' and 'Ninja' styles in real time. Under the new partnership, Manga Productions will oversee Arabic localisation, marketing, and regional distribution. The company plans to involve Saudi creatives in the adaptation process to ensure authenticity and cultural relevance for Arabic-speaking gamers. Dr Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, emphasised that the collaboration reflects the company's ability to deliver world-class content while nurturing local talent. He noted that Manga's growing international recognition highlights its strength in regional publishing and marketing. Following their successful cooperation on Dynasty Warriors: Origins, which earned praise for its culturally sensitive localisation, both companies are aiming to build on that momentum. Hisashi Koinuma, President and COO of Koei Tecmo Games, expressed confidence in the continued partnership with Manga Productions, stating that the reception of Dynasty Warriors: Origins demonstrated the region's enthusiasm for well-localized Japanese titles. Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh, Manga Productions' Director of Business Development and Content Licensing, said the aim with Nioh 3 is to create a localised experience that resonates from day one, offering Arabic players a seamless and immersive journey when the title launches globally. This partnership reinforces the growing influence of MENA in the global gaming market and underlines Manga Productions' commitment to delivering content that speaks directly to regional audiences while setting new standards for Arabic localisation in the gaming industry.
Asharq Al-Awsat
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Manga Productions to Publish 'Nioh 3' in MENA with Arabic Localization
Manga Productions, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), announced on Tuesday its partnership with KOEI TECMO GAMES as the official publisher of the highly anticipated action title 'Nioh 3' in the Middle East and North Africa region. The game is scheduled for a worldwide simultaneous launch in early 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Steam. In a statement, Manga Production said 'Nioh 3' marks the latest chapter in the acclaimed dark samurai action RPG series, celebrated for its unique blend of Japanese mythology and intense combat. With over eight million units sold worldwide, the Nioh series has established itself as a global favorite. This new installment adopts an open field environment and a new battle system that allows players to switch between the two fighting styles "Samurai" and "Ninja" in real time during combat. As part of the collaboration, Manga Productions will lead the Arabic localization, marketing, and regional publishing efforts. In line with the company's mission to empower local talent, Manga Productions will involve Saudi creatives in the localization process, ensuring a culturally resonant and high-quality experience for Arabic-speaking players. Manga Productions CEO Dr. Essam Bukhary said the launch of 'Nioh 3' with Arabic support for gamers in the region is another step toward delivering world-class experiences while empowering Saudi talent throughout every stage of development. 'The trust we've earned from our global partners reflects Manga Productions' strong capabilities in publishing, distribution, and marketing, as well as our continued success in delivering high-quality, culturally relevant content to audiences across the region,' he stated. Manga Productions and KOEI TECMO GAMES remain committed to delivering high-quality entertainment that reflects the growing passion and potential of the gaming community across the Middle East. KOEI TECMO GAMES President and COO Hisashi Koinuma stressed: 'After the positive reception of DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, we're excited to deepen our partnership with Manga Productions to bring Nioh 3 to Arabic-speaking audiences, fully localized and tailored to their expectations.' Manga Productions Business Development and Content Licensing Director Eng. Abdulaziz Alnaghmoosh said: 'Following our collaboration on DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, which was praised for delivering an Arabic experience that felt original rather than translated, Nioh 3 is our next step in raising that standard.' 'We're committed to offering players a seamless, fully localized journey that feels like it was made for them from day one of the worldwide simultaneous launch,' he remarked.
