Mastercard has partnered with mobile games publisher Tamatem to support in-game payments in the Middle East and Africa.

Under the agreement, Mastercard Gateway will process payments for Tamatem Plus, Tamatem’s digital commerce platform and marketplace.

The rollout covers more than 13 markets, starting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Tamatem has backing from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and support from Abu Dhabi Gaming.

Through Tamatem Plus, players can pay via local web stores and in-game checkouts.

In addition to cards, they can use local payment methods and telco wallet balances. Each checkout also includes authentication and fraud protection.

For game publishers, the companies said the platform provides a direct sales channel to players. As a result, they gain more control over their brand and purchasing experience.

Mastercard Gateway, available through Mastercard Merchant Cloud, processes transactions in stores, online and in mobile apps.

“Through meaningful partnerships, we are digitising in-game payments to deliver unprecedented convenience to players and level up engagement,”

said Mete Güney, Executive Vice President for Market Development in EEMEA at Mastercard.

“Gaming companies entering MENA face a highly fragmented payments landscape, with different consumer preferences, payment methods and infrastructure requirements across every market,”

said Faisal Al Bitar, Managing Director of Tamatem Plus.

To address this, Tamatem Plus offers over 50 local payment methods through a single integration. It also runs more than 30 local storefronts.

As a direct Mastercard Gateway partner, the platform will receive 24/7 technical support and multiple local and international acquirer connections.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News UAE, based on image by Mastercard via its Press Release.