In conversation with Peter Oganesean, Managing Director of HP Middle East and East Africa as he discusses HP’s innovation for modern gamers and the gaming industry, partnerships and sustainability approach.
How are modern gamers choosing their gaming gear now and what features are an absolute must or the most in demand?
Gaming gear plays a crucial role in the gaming experience, and gamers carefully consider their needs, usage patterns, and setup when choosing accessories to enhance their performance. They often seek gear that combines innovation, realism, and accessibility, ensuring an enjoyable and engaging gaming journey.
The most in-demand features include high-end gaming PCs, headsets, keyboards, computer mice, and mouse pads. Fortunately, advancements in technology have made gaming more accessible than ever before, with a wide range of devices and platforms catering to different preferences and budgets.
Can you tell us about HP’s Gaming PC and peripherals range and variants available in the market today?
HP offers gaming PCs and peripherals designed for power, performance, and quality. They also enable an immersive and seamless gaming experience. For instance, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 laptop is the world’s first gaming laptop with a lattice-less sky printed RGB keyboard and allows for smoother gameplay with up to a 24.6% FPS improvement. The OMEN Transcend 16, comes with a fast response 240Hz monitor, and Intel’s latest 13th generation of processors.
The HyperX Alloy Rise Keyboard, is the first hot-swappable keyboard with a gasket mounted design from HyperX. The new HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini compact gaming mouse, is ultra-lightweight and offers a battery life of up to 100 hours.
The Gaming industry has been at its best since 2020 and it continues to grow. What trends do you see currently and how have you innovated in these years?
The UAE is witnessing a surge in online games, with projected revenues of US$50.60 million this year. Gamers are increasingly embracing virtual reality technology for immersive experiences, as well as getting more involved in esports and live streaming events.
Evolving with these trends, HP’s OMEN and HyperX portfolios offer products such as the HP OMEN Transcend 14, the OMEN Transcend 16, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Headset Black and the HyperX Alloy Rise Keyboard. HP is also an official Riot Games Technology partner, allowing OMEN and HyperX to reach Riot’s player audience and provide best-in-class hardware and technology solutions that will power many aspects of Riot’s international esports events.
Could you shed some light on HP’s partnership with Riot Games, can we expect any further collabs or upcoming competitions in the region?
In this first-of-its-kind collaboration, HP has partnered with Riot Games to enhance gaming and esports experiences globally through our OMEN and HyperX brands. As Riot’s official technology partner, we will lend our hardware and technology expertise to power Riot’s global events such as LoL Esports, the VALORANT Champions Tour, and TFT Esports. The partnership will also focus on co-developing future gaming products specifically designed for esports and creating co-branded marketing campaigns.
Due to this global partnership aimed at reimagining gaming and esports, we can expect more local events and competitions. Leveraging HP’s state-of-the-art technology, this collaboration will keep delivering exceptional gaming experiences for players and esports professionals.
Please tell us about HP’s Sustainability approach/strategy, what steps has the brand taken to give back to the environment?
We are committed to delivering sustainable solutions in all new products and packaging, exploring innovative ways to use more recycled materials, and contributing to a sustainable supply chain. Over 1 billion pounds of waste have been recycled by HP since 2019, and our goal is to reuse precious metals that are needed for PCs.
In fact, HP has already recycled 8.1 million kilos of metal, and also consciously removing petroleum-based plastics. By 2025, those single use plastics will amount to 0% of our packaging. HP products like the OMEN Transcend 16 laptop and the 2023 OMEN 34c gaming monitors, include parts that are made with ocean-bound plastic.
Recently, HP announced the winners of its GameOn with HP Gaming Garage hackathon in the UAE. Firstly, why are such initiatives important and, how do such initiatives from private companies help hone talent/upskill individuals?
Initiatives such as the GameOn with HP Gaming Garage hackathon play an important role in cultivating talent and enhancing skill sets. HP provides a platform for aspiring game developers to unleash their creativity and use their technical abilities. Through these programs, participants gain practical experience and mentorship, preparing them for success in the gaming and esports industries. The GameOn hackathon which recently concluded in the UAE, is also currently happening in Saudi Arabia. Winners will be announced later this month.
Our commitment to empowering learners via our Gaming Garage education course platform ensures access to valuable resources and opportunities for individuals to succeed in the digital landscape. These efforts align with HP’s broader goal of fostering digital equity and building a talented workforce for the future.
