Carry1st enhances payment infrastructure for Blood Strike in MENA, supporting Stellar Gate Games’ mission to expand regional gaming access
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - 16th January 2025 - Carry1st, Africa's leading gaming publisher and payment provider, today announces a partnership with Stellar Gate Games, a joint venture between Sandsoft and technology giant NetEase Games, to grow Blood Strike MENA, the MENA version of NetEase Games' popular first-person shooter game, Blood Strike. Carry1st will work alongside Stellar Gate Games to help drive the growth of the gaming ecosystem across the MENA region.
Having enabled access across Africa to some of the world’s most popular mobile titles, including VALORANT and Call of Duty: Mobile in recent years, Carry1st is now extending its payment solutions in the MENA region. As part of this targeted expansion to support Stellar Gate Games, the partnership leverages Carry1st’s proprietary Pay1st platform, enabling players to make payments using local methods such as mobile money, digital wallets, and bank transfers.
Building on the formation of Stellar Gate Games by NetEase Games and Sandsoft in 2024, this partnership will enhance accessibility for millions of gamers in MENA, one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming markets with over 380 million players.
First launched in 2023, Blood Strike has gained global traction as a highly popular first-person shooter battle royale game. Renowned for its fast-paced action and competitive gameplay, the title celebrated surpassing 50 million downloads worldwide in August 2024.
A Shared Vision to Unlock Gaming Access
“Partnering with Stellar Gate Games is a key step in our mission to make gaming accessible to players everywhere,” said Lucy Hoffman, COO of Carry1st. “We are excited to bring our payment solutions to select countries in the MENA region, helping deliver localized content and create a seamless gaming experience for players across the region.”
Steve Zhang, CEO of Stellar Gate Games, added: "We are excited to join forces with Carry1st to expand Blood Strike’s reach in MENA. The company’s deep understanding of local markets and payment solutions will ensure a smooth experience for players in the region. Carry1st’s expertise in local payment methods and their innovation in unlocking access to games makes them an ideal partner. This collaboration will make it easier for players to engage with and enjoy our games.”
About Carry1st
Carry1st is Africa’s leading publisher of games and digital content. Its mission is to scale awesome content in frontier markets. Carry1st develops, licences, and publishes games and monetizes them effectively with Pay1st, a proprietary payments solution and the Carry1st Shop, their online marketplace. The company has scaled games such as Call of Duty®: Mobile, VALORANT, Mancala Adventures, and Mergedom. Founded in 2018, the company is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Sony, BITKRAFT, Google, and Riot Games.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Lloyd at Nara Communications
Alexandra@naracommunications.com
About Stellar Gate Games
Stellar Gate Games (SGG) is a pioneering game company headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established in 2024 as a joint venture between NetEase Games and Sandsoft, SGG is dedicated to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Middle Eastern market and Beyond.
Leveraging the extensive expertise of NetEase Games in game development and the regional insights of Sandsoft, SGG aims to create and publish innovative games that resonate with players in the Middle East. At SGG, we believe in the power of gaming to bring people together and create meaningful cultural exchanges. By integrating the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Middle East, we strive to produce diversified gaming experiences with global appeal. Our mission is to build a thriving gaming ecosystem in the region, fostering local talent and driving the growth of the interactive entertainment industry.
For more information, please contact:
SGG Public Relations
About NetEase Games
NetEase Games, the online games division of NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX: 9999), is a leading global developer and publisher of video game IP across a variety of genres and platforms. NetEase Games' development and publishing slate include titles such as Marvel Rivals, Knives Out, and Naraka: Bladepoint, and partnerships with major entertainment brands such as Warner Bros and Mojang AB (a Microsoft subsidiary). NetEase Games also supports the growth and development of its innovative global studios in Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States.
For more information, please contact:
Zhou Zhaoxi
Tel:(+86) 20-85105163 ext.57169
NetEasegamespr@global.NetEase.com
David Wilson (EU)
Alex Armour (US)
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