Activision and the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) hosted the official launch event for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Friday, November 14, 2025, at SEF Arena, BLVD City, Riyadh. The launch was a strategic move to spotlight one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming and esports markets, connecting local communities – primarily highly engaged young gamers in the region.
The event brought together Saudi Arabia’s gaming community, content creators, and media to celebrate the arrival of the new Black Ops game. Attendees experienced the game’s latest innovations, including the enhanced Omni movement system, the all-new Wall Jump mechanic, and the return of Round-Based Zombies with the largest map in Black Ops history.
Elevating Riyadh’s positioning as an esports hub
Abdullah Alnasser, Head of Esports Product at SEF, officially opened the ceremony, welcoming attendees and highlighting the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to elevating the regional esports landscape.
“Hosting the official launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in Riyadh is a proud moment for our community and a testament to the Kingdom’s growing position as a global esports hub,” he said on the launch.
“Call of Duty has long set the benchmark for competitive shooters, and seeing this next chapter unfold at SEF Arena reflects our commitment to partnering with world-leading publishers and bringing exceptional gaming experiences to players in Saudi Arabia and across the region.”
Holding the launch on the game’s global release date, November 14, aimed to reinforce the region’s growing influence on the global stage.
“With a young, highly engaged audience and a deep passion for competitive gaming, Saudi Arabia has become a key player in the Middle East’s gaming ecosystem,” said Nora Bajes, Communications Territory Lead, Activision.
“Riyadh provided the ideal platform to connect with local communities while representing the wider Middle East, signalling a long-term commitment to the region’s players, creators, and esports culture,” she said.
Therefore, Activision crafted the Black Ops 7 launch event to connect with the Kingdom’s gamers in ways that deeply resonate with them.
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Embedding regional culture into global gaming
To foster a memorable experience with this segment, Activision employed communications pushes and offers that focus on localisation and cultural relevance.
“This includes Arabic media alerts, community messaging, and blogs, as well as dedicated Call of Duty Arabic channels on TikTok and Instagram that use the Saudi dialect to authentically connect with players,” Bajes said.
“In-game, key cultural moments such as Ramadan or Eid are celebrated through dedicated bundles. Saudi players are also represented at global events like Call of Duty Next, highlighting the region’s growing influence on the global stage,” she added.
The launch event also featured an influencer showdown, featuring 12 of the region’s most prominent gaming personalities. Gamers such as Abu Najd, GAMER SNACK, oCMz, 25KlOoODE, Fareed, and VirusGG, who showcased the game’s fast-paced multiplayer experience in a live 6v6 format.
The influencers competed in two teams, The Guild and JSOC, with The Guild emerging victorious following a highly competitive final round. Team members included Abdullah Reviews, CANCEL, Aziz, Xzit Thamer, LLE, and LeoNoHero.
“Content creators are key to driving campaign impact and reaching highly engaged gaming audiences through authenticity and trust,” said Bajes. “Influencers bring their unique voice, passion for Call of Duty, and deep community connections, making messages resonate more than traditional brand posts.”
Therefore, Activision’s strategic collaboration with local creators aimed to add cultural relevance. Activision achieved this through clear briefs that encouraged creative freedom to ensure the launch stayed on message while being genuine.
The event aimed to mark a significant milestone in Activision’s continued engagement with the Middle East gaming community.
Credits:
ACTIVISION:
Pierre Khoury: Senior Marketing Manager
Nora Bajes: Communications Territory Lead
Badr Bayaa: Social Media & Digital Publishing Specialist, Call of Duty
Finn McCabe: Senior Consumer Marketing Specialist
Saudi Esports Federation (SEF)
Abdullah Alnasser: Head of Esports, Abdullah Alnasser
Adel Almeqren: Executive Director of Marketing & Branding
Rzan Alghamdi: Marketing and Branding Senior Specialist
Faisal Alotaibi: Publisher Relations Senior Specialist
Rana Abunayyan: National Team Manager
Abdulrahman Alzaben: Tournaments Advisor – Players Committee
Mohammed Al Ahmadi: PR & Media Lead
House of Comms:
Krisha Doshi: Account Manager
Mohammed Alsayed Abdullah: KSA Account Manager
The Esports & Gaming Agency – Middle East
Bilal Shreif: Director of Social Media & Digital Marketing
Charles Tharakan: Account & Operations Manager
Mostafa El-Marghany: Projects & Operations Manager
Omar Moussa: Social Media Analyst
Omar Al Tamimi: Social Media and Content Specialist
Mostafa Kanaan: Social Media and Marketing Executive
Elie Mondalek: Creative Manager
Mustafa Hegazi: Creative and Content Manager
VANGUARD
Mohammed Alsaidan: Director of Business Development
Waseem Al Madawi: Project Manager
Errika Tzafesta: Director- Programme & Operations
Hamood Nasser: Head of Live Production
Yusuf Salmeen: Head of Facilities
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Abdulmohsen Bin Ateeq: Executive Advisor Executive Advisor
Hajar Alshareedah: Senior Account Manager
