Sandsoft - Comprehensive Analysis Report
Summary
Sandsoft, established in 2020, is a global mobile-first games developer, publisher, and investor. Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with offices in Spain, Finland, and China, the company is dedicated to creating engaging and entertaining gaming experiences that connect people worldwide. Sandsoft plays a crucial role in nurturing the nascent Middle East and North Africa (MENA) gaming ecosystem, aspiring to position it as a global market leader and contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 for economic and social reform. The company's team comprises seasoned industry professionals from prominent companies such as Zynga, Gameloft, King, and Rovio, with experience in developing iconic games like Candy Crush and Angry Birds.
1. Strategic Focus & Objectives
Core Objectives
Sandsoft's strategic priorities are centered on publishing, developing, and investing in high-quality, mobile-first, free-to-play, mid-core, and core gaming experiences and studios. The company aims to establish itself as a global industry leader, competing with major players such as EA, Activision, Tencent, and NetEase within five years. A key focus is on localization, product optimization, culturalization, marketing, and customer support for games, especially within the rapidly expanding MENA region. Sandsoft is proactively expanding its global presence, having opened a studio in Barcelona in late 2023, with plans for further expansion into territories including Japan, Korea, China, and eventually the US. The company also actively pursues acquisitions and investments in high-potential games and development teams worldwide. Identifying hybrid-casual as a highly viable game genre in the current market, Sandsoft plans to extend its reach into new genres and hybrid gaming experiences in 2025.
Specialization Areas
The company specializes in mobile-first, free-to-play, mid-core, and core gaming experiences, with a strong emphasis on localization and culturalization tailored for the MENA region. Sandsoft engages in both internal and external game development and publishing. Furthermore, it focuses on strategic investments in high-potential game titles and development teams globally.
Target Markets
Sandsoft targets a global audience, with particular strategic importance placed on the fast-growing MENA market. The company also plans for future expansion into key gaming territories such as Japan, Korea, China, and the United States.
2. Financial Overview
Funding History
Sandsoft is a privately held company, part of a broader network of businesses owned by a Saudi-based family. This backing provides full support and a long-term commitment to investment, fostering a thriving games business in Saudi Arabia. Sandsoft's publishing model offers funding to developers based on milestone achievements, with additional investment unlocked as games meet key performance metrics. In 2023, the company made a significant investment of nearly £3 million in The Tiny Digital Factory, a mobile racing studio located in Lyon, France, and Montreal, Canada. According to an August 2024 survey conducted by Sandsoft, 83% of mobile developers had secured capital for game development or marketing, with publishers identified as the second most common source of funding after strategic investors.
3. Product Pipeline
Key Products/Services
Sandsoft engages in both internal and external game development, as well as publishing its own titles and third-party games. The company currently has several games released and many more under development.
Pocket Necromancer (RPG): Released in October 2024, this role-playing game was developed in cooperation with Charged Monkey, a studio based in the Czech Republic.
Wizario (Hybrid-casual): Sandsoft began publishing this title from Kolka Games (Latvia) in March 2025.
Potions & Spells (Hybrid-casual): This game from Rogue Harbour Game Studio (Canada) commenced publishing under Sandsoft in March 2025.
Iza's Supermarket (Hybrid-casual): Publishing for this title from Izyplay Game Studio (Brazil) started in March 2025.
Socially Enabled Games: Sandsoft's Riyadh development team is actively prototyping games primarily within the strategy genre, focusing on social interaction.
Racing Genre Game: The company is currently exploring opportunities in the racing genre with The Tiny Digital Factory.
RPG Project: An RPG title is currently in development with a UK-based studio.
Co-development Project: A joint development project is underway with Netmarble and Saudi media firm MBC.
Numerous other games are in various stages of testing and are scheduled for release in the coming months.
4. Technology & Innovation
Technology Stack
Sandsoft is committed to leveraging novel technologies to create high-end mobile-first gaming experiences. The company investigates player ownership models through the application of blockchain technology in certain projects. It also utilizes artificial intelligence to explore artistic styles and concepts for new game development. Sandsoft employs a diverse set of 27 tools and technologies for building, marketing, and selling its products, encompassing languages and frameworks, development tools, libraries, data stores, and monitoring solutions.
Significant Scientific Methods/AI-driven Capabilities: The company uses AI for generating artistic styles and concepts in game development. It also highlights AI-driven personalization as an increasingly important trend within the industry.
Development Tools & Technologies: Key development tools include Kubernetes, Terraform, Jest, Cypress, Webpack, Istio, Consul, and Docker. Essential libraries in use are React, Vue.js, and Redux. Sandsoft also identifies WebGPU as a pivotal technology that will enable seamless, high-performance web gaming across mobile and PC browsers without the need for dedicated applications, offering improved graphics and overall performance.
5. Leadership & Management
Executive Team
Sandsoft's leadership is composed of highly experienced professionals with extensive backgrounds in the gaming industry:
Abdulaziz M. Al Ajlan, Managing Director. He is also involved in Stellar Gate Games, a new joint venture with NetEase Games.
David Fernandez Remesal, CEO. Appointed in 2021, he possesses a long and distinguished career in mobile gaming, having worked at companies such as THQ Wireless, Digital Chocolate, Nokia, and King. His contributions span over 150 mobile games, including notable titles like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Tower Bloxx Deluxe, Bubble Witch 2 Saga, Candy Crush Friends Saga, and DC Heroes and Villains.
Ahmed Sharif, CTO. Appointed in August 2023, he previously served as Meta’s Head of AR, VR, Metaverse Automation, and Platform Engineering. His rich background includes leadership positions at Electronic Arts, Tag Games, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, where he contributed to titles such as Need for Speed and the development of PSVR1, PS4, and PS4 Pro, as well as EA's Frostbite game engine. He focuses on enhancing and scaling the Sandsoft Publishing Platform and providing technical direction for in-house game development.
Pasqual Batalla, COO. Joining in August 2023 from Socialpoint (a Take-Two and Zynga mobile games studio), where he spent over seven years including more than three as COO, he now directs Sandsoft’s global operations and steers global publishing and internal game development activities.
* Maxim Matveyko, VP Tech. A former Wargaming executive, he was previously listed as
