Al Shami drops 'Wayli' music video in collaboration with PUBG MOBILE

PUBG MOBILE collaborates with regional icon Al Shami for 'Wayli', an animated music video telling a virtual love story.

PUBG MOBILE is leaning heavily into regional pop culture with its latest update. According to the official announcement, the battle royale giant has partnered with regional music icon Al Shami to release "Wayli," their new PUBG MOBILE Wayli animated video, which launched on 17 January 2026.

This isn't just a skin drop or a background track. This gaming music video collaboration marks a shift towards narrative content for the game in the Middle East, using in-game assets to tell a story rather than just host a firefight. It follows a trend of virtual music events, similar to the upcoming Bruno Mars concert on Roblox, showing how games are increasingly becoming entertainment hubs.

New 'Wayli' PUBG MOBILE animated video launches 17 January featuring Al Shami
First gaming music video of its kind for the MENA region
Story follows two players connecting in-game who cannot meet in real life
Al Shami is a Billboard Arabic chart-topper and Guinness World Record holder
Available now on PUBG MOBILE's official channels

The story behind 'Wayli'

The virtual love story video tells a modern love story that many gamers might find familiar. It follows two players who form a deep connection inside PUBG MOBILE but are unable to meet in the real world. The narrative flips between their actual lives and their in-game avatars, blurring the lines between the two.

Visually, it mixes the game's standard look with anime-style animation. It's a significant production step up for regional content, positioning the game as a platform for storytelling rather than just a lobby for matches. The Al Shami PUBG song itself was written and composed by Al Shami, with arrangement by Rayen Agha.

Why Al Shami?

If you haven't been following the regional music charts, Al Shami is currently one of the biggest names in MENA pop. He holds a Guinness World Record as the youngest artist to hit No.1 on the Billboard Arabic chart and recently picked up a Joy Award and four Billboard Arabia Music Awards.

His involvement gives PUBG MOBILE serious cultural cachet in the region. The partnership is framed as the opening chapter of a broader collaboration, with the developer hinting at "additional creative touchpoints" coming in the next few weeks. While details are scarce, this usually implies themed in-game items or events are on the way.

Gaming as a cultural platform

This move reinforces how mobile games in the region are evolving. We've seen similar cultural crossovers recently, such as TikTok's influence on regional trends, and gaming is following suit. By commissioning original music and animation specifically for the MENA audience, PUBG MOBILE is acknowledging that its player base here wants more than just global content ports.

The game remains free to play on iOS and Android. Players can watch the "Wayli" video on the game's official social channels starting today.

FAQs

What is 'Wayli'?

Wayli is an animated music video collaboration between PUBG MOBILE and regional music artist Al Shami. It uses game visuals to tell a story about two players who fall in love in-game but can't meet in real life.

Who is Al Shami?

Al Shami is a Syrian artist and composer who has become a regional music icon. He is known for blending Arabic and Western styles and is the youngest artist to reach No.1 on the Billboard Arabic chart.

Is Al Shami coming to PUBG MOBILE as a character?

The announcement mentions "additional creative touchpoints" will be revealed in the coming weeks. While a character skin hasn't been confirmed yet, these types of collaborations often lead to in-game cosmetics.