SANDSOFT MAKES TWO FULL-TIME HIRES FOLLOWING PRESS START INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESS

Sandsoft Games :

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – 08 APRIL, 2024 – Sandsoft, the mobile-first game developer, publisher, and investor powered by world-leading games industry talent, has today announced the full-time appointments of Norah AlQuaydhib and Reham Yeshar, who join following their success in Sandsoft’s Press Start internship program.
 

Aligned with Vision 2030, and delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Press Start provides the opportunity for a diverse mix of entry-level game developers to design a mobile game from the ground up while receiving support from Sandsoft’s team of games industry experts.
 

Norah and Reham’s excellence in the program led to the offer of two full-time game development roles within the Riyadh Studio to create innovative, accessible core social games for players across the world.
 

Yahsir Qureshi, VP Head of Studio, Sandsoft, commented:

“The entire Sandsoft team was incredibly impressed with the fresh perspectives provided by Norah and Reham. As the games industry in the Middle East continues to expand, it’s hugely important to give up-and-coming talent from a range of backgrounds the opportunity to grow professionally.  At Sandsoft, we're committed to building a diverse team with 29% of our workforce being female, above the industry average. Whilst there's still more to do in this area, we're proud to nurture local and diverse talent, and I look forward to seeing Norah and Reham's continued growth.”
 

Norah AlQuaydhib, Junior Game programmer, Sandsoft, added: 

“I’ve loved working at Sandsoft for the past six months. Sharing an office with experienced gaming leaders has provided a great learning experience, and I can’t wait to discover even more.”
 

Reham Yeshar, Junior Game Artist, Sandsoft, commented:

“The Press Start program provided a great opportunity to work with like-minded developers eager to grow in their careers. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Sandsoft, and I’m excited to be involved."
 

In March 2024, Sandsoft announced a Joint Venture with NetEase Games to publish games within the MENA region. To learn more about careers at Sandsoft, click here.
 

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About Norah AlQuaydhib, Junior Game programmer, Sandsoft:
 

Beginning as a Google Developer Student Club Workshop Instructor for tools such as the Unity Engine, Norah quickly honed her ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. A participant of the Saudi Digital Academy and Sandsoft’s Press Start Program, Norah enhanced her skills in the Scrum process, game design, programming, project management, and teamwork.

At Sandsoft, Norah's role as a Junior Game Programmer holds special significance. Despite her junior status, her youthful perspective and foundational game development knowledge offer a fresh outlook to the team in Riyadh Studio. Norah's unique viewpoint promises to contribute valuable insights and new ideas, enriching the team's approach to creating innovative, accessible core social games.
 

About Reham Yeshar, Junior Game Artist, Sandsoft

Beginning her career as a Medical Representative, Reham transitioned into the realm of game development as a freelance 3D Artist in which she collaborated with various organizations such as Anubis Arts and Layan Cultural Foundation. Reham specializes in creating high-quality 3D models, texturing, and rendering, leveraging tools such as Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Unity to bring digital creations to life.

Reham’s passion for game design flourished as she took on roles as a Game Designer and Artist at Fahy Studios, where she contributed to the conceptualization and development of gaming experiences. In 2023, Reham joined the Press Start Initiative run by Sandsoft and MCIT and continued her journey at Sandsoft as a Junior Game Artist, where she is pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling in the ever-evolving landscape of video games by creating 3D in-game assets.

About Sandsoft

Founded in 2020, Sandsoft is a fast-growth global mobile-first games developer, publisher and investor, powered by a diverse team of highly experienced games makers. Sandsoft is committed to providing engaging and entertaining gaming experiences to an international audience, supported by an experienced global team with a proven track record and deep-rooted knowledge of the video games market. The company is composed of passionate game creators who have worked on some of the most successful game franchises ever released, including FIFA, Candy Crush, Need for Speed, Angry Birds and World of Tanks. Headquartered in Saudi Arabia, with offices in Spain, Finland, and China, Sandsoft aims to bridge continents, cultures, and people, fostering closer connections and contributing to the development of the global gaming ecosystem as a market leader.