Interview with Ismail Ahli, Co-founder and Creative Executive Director of Foxrito Studios

?1.???? Can you tell us the story behind your start-up’s founding and what unique perspectives you bring to the gaming industry in the Dubai?

Gaming has always been a passion of mine; therefore, the idea of starting Foxrito Studios emerged in 2019 when we decided to acquire an IT consultancy company and redirect its focus towards digital entertainment creation. Given that the game development industry in Dubai is not well-established yet, we faced limited local resources. Consequently, we engaged in intensive research and development to understand market needs and conducted a thorough study of what we could achieve with our limited resources.

We opted to develop a survival horror game, as it is our favorite genre. This led to the conception of 'Darkness Road,' and our focus has been on this project ever since. What sets us apart in the gaming industry in Dubai is our commitment to infuse elements from the UAE culture into all our projects. This is our endeavor to showcase the unique and beautiful aspects of our culture and setting to the world.

2.???? What exciting projects are you currently working on, and how do they reflect the culture and technological innovation of Dubai?

Our current project is a third-person survival and psychological horror game titled 'Darkness Road.' The game follows Hamdan, an ordinary man who is unexpectedly abducted and trapped in a dark and terrifying location. Players control Hamdan, navigating through distorted environments, encountering eerie enemies, and facing challenging bosses. To survive, players must solve intricate puzzles and riddles, using their wits to uncover clues for escape. The game's intense atmosphere, accompanied by haunting sound effects, creates a suspenseful experience, immersing players in a journey where they confront their deepest fears and anxieties.

What makes the game interesting is that it features characters from all countries of the Arabian Gulf. Each character dresses in their local attire and speaks in their local dialect, enhancing the authenticity of the gameplay experience. The name 'Darkness Road' is a nickname for an actual road in the Al Khawaneej area in Dubai, historically known for dune riding and picnics.

In terms of technical innovation, we took a groundbreaking approach by incorporating UAE-inspired features and settings into the game world. This includes the atmosphere, puzzles, and riddles strongly influenced by UAE heritage and folklore. The fascinating aspect is that when we released the demo version of 'Darkness Road' on Steam in August 2023, the game garnered over 10,000 downloads in just three months, with the top three countries in terms of downloads being Russia, China, and the United States. It's truly gratifying to see gamers worldwide excited to digitally experience our culture and sharing their experiences on YouTube and social media.

3.???? What have been the biggest challenges in establishing a game development company in the Dubai, and what achievements are you most proud of?

We faced numerous challenges, encompassing technical and logistical issues. Unlike Japan, Europe, and the US, Dubai and the Middle East, in general, are not significant hubs for game developers. Consequently, building a team with the required set of skills to commence game development posed a major challenge for us. Additionally, gaming platforms such as Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo do not currently consider Dubai and our region as a promising market for developers and emerging talents. We hope that these platforms will recognize our creativity and acknowledge the presence of talented studios like ours in the region.

One of our proudest achievements is the fact that 'Darkness Road' was primarily developed by only three individuals. We believe that once the gaming community realizes how three individuals could create such a high-quality project, they will appreciate the hard work and dedication we poured into this endeavor. This, in itself, is an accomplishment we are extremely proud of.

4.???? How do you plan to engage with the local and international gaming community, and what kind of audience are you aiming to attract with your games?

Our plan involves delivering games created by passionate gamers to the gaming community. Our games are crafted with love and passion, making engagement with players on all social media platforms crucial for building a productive relationship with the gaming community. When we released the demo version of 'Darkness Road,' we received valuable feedback from gamers locally and worldwide, establishing a natural engagement between them and us. Since our current project caters to survival horror genre enthusiasts, our future projects will target other genres, including adventure, shooting, casual, stealth, and many more.

5.???? Looking into the future, where do you see your company in the next five years, and how do you hope to influence the gaming industry both regionally and globally?

?Our ambitions are limitless, to be honest with you. We aim to continue creating immersive gaming experiences for our audiences by leveraging the latest technologies available and meeting the demand for current trends such as the metaverse, VR, etc. In the next five years, we envision ourselves as a strong, well-established studio based in Dubai, releasing magical digital experiences to the region and beyond.