Gaming equipment sales shoot up amid Covid restrictions

There is a lot of potential in the UAE's gaming PC segment and it is expected to continue to grow.

The demand for gaming has shot up amid the coronavirus pandemic, and this was not limited to game titles as complementary products also enjoyed a surge in sales.
"As the outbreak at the initial stages [of the pandemic] did require most to be at home, the demand overall for gaming-related products has gone up worldwide and the UAE is no exception," said Sunny Narain, managing director of XFXForce Technology.
He pointed out that there was a surge in demand for equipment such as high-end graphic cards and monitors, as well as furniture including gaming tables and chairs.
Online sales channels that have a robust end-to-end infrastructure in place have also benefited from this.
"During this period, e-commerce portals that had the capabilities and infrastructure in place to deliver these products in the shortest possible time and at an aggressive price saw a considerable amount of increase in there orders," he added.
Citing a report titled Skin in the Game from Strategy& Middle East, Narain says the GCC gaming market is growing at a rapid pace, undergoing an expansion that could be worth $821 million by 2021, up from $693 million in 2017.
He says XFX, during the lockdown period, posted an almost 30 per cent growth in graphic cards and gaming systems. Chairs and tables witnessed a 50 per cent spike.
The UAE, Narain says, is among the largest gaming markets in the region, having developed into a hub over the years. This has attracted international players to set up shop in the country.
It also has witnessed a uptick in the e-sports category, with the growth of local gaming studios helping widen the base for the game developer community in the country.
XFX recently opened its new Experience Zone in Dubai, which features a futuristic setup and which also provides services.
The area in Dubai's Computer Plaza showcases XFX AMD Radeon technology, and is bannered by a high-end gaming machine powered by a 32-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper.
"The UAE is a very important market for us with enormous potential for growth... we consider the UAE market second to none and ensure that all latest products are available at the same time in the country, as soon as they are launched anywhere in the globe," Narain added.
"We see a lot more potential in the gaming PC segment and believe it shall continue to grow in the UAE, as well as in the region."
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com