Business
Philippine game studio highlights Qatar’s innovation drive at Web Summit 2026
Qatar’s growing role as a hub for innovation and technology in the Middle East is drawing interest from startups across the globe, including Philippine-based game studio Vilein, which is participating for the first time in Web Summit Qatar 2026.
Joshua Dominic Simon, developer and game designer at Vilein, said the company views Qatar’s strong economy and advanced technology ecosystem as an ideal environment for innovation.
Simon noted that Qatar’s purchasing power, combined with the country’s increasing awareness and investments in emerging technologies, creates a fertile ground for startups to flourish.
"Qatar’s strong economy and high purchasing power make it an ideal environment for innovative companies like ours to thrive. Qatar is clearly ahead in technology and awareness, and we see this as an opportunity to learn and grow alongside their ecosystem,” he told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview.
Simon explained that Vilein’s mission is to deliver gameplay experiences that are innovative, competitive, and high quality. He said the studio has developed working theories on replayability, which determine how long players remain engaged with a game.
"Replayability is key to keeping players interested over time,” he explained, adding that the studio’s philosophy of focusing on "powerful, not pretty” gameplay reflects its belief that substance matters more than surface aesthetics.
According to Simon, this approach resonates with Qatar’s appetite for innovation and forward-looking technology. He emphasised that Vilein’s participation marks one of the first appearances by a Philippine game developer at Web Summit Qatar.
Simon said the decision to come to Doha was motivated by a desire to compete internationally and to showcase Filipino talent in the global gaming industry. He also pointed to the large Filipino community in Qatar and the wider Middle East, many of whom are avid gamers.
Asked about his impressions of Qatar’s tech ecosystem and startup culture, Simon described Qatar’s tech ecosystem as advanced, with strong awareness of artificial intelligence and a growing number of startups. He said Vilein views this as a chance to learn and adapt. "We might have to catch up, but we see this as an opportunity to grow alongside them,” he said.
"Our participation at Web Summit Qatar underscores the growing diversity of startups engaging with the country’s innovation ecosystem. The event offers both exposure and the chance to align our vision with Qatar’s
expanding role in technology and eSports,” Simon added.
Joining Simon at Web Summit Qatar are his Vilein team CEO and chairman Carl Hochman, adviser and game designer Jozef Elefant, and Game Developer generalist Nico Pinol. They were accompanied by Consul
General Cassandra B Sawadjaan of the Philippine Embassy in Qatar and Raquel S Simon, CEO & president of Mensch.