Important points
Saudi Arabia aims to become a gaming capital by 2030 and is investing heavily in the industry. The country is Nintendo’s largest shareholder and also holds stakes in other gaming giants. Although Saudi Arabia has no plans to influence game development, some titles are censored before they are released in the country.
The Prince of Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in continuing his relationship with Nintendo. The gaming market is primarily based in the United States and Japan, with Nintendo dominating most of the market, but other countries are also showing initiative to become more involved in the industry. It could potentially take the game to unexpected places. It is unclear whether this relationship will affect future game content, but it seems unlikely.
Saudi Arabia is making strides in the entertainment business. To diversify the country’s economy, Savvy Games Group, a state-funded company involved in various areas of the gaming industry, including esports and publishing, is making strides to expand its reach. . Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars into gaming, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon. Savvy Games Group says it plans to continue to allocate a core part of the gaming market with the aim of making Saudi Arabia a gaming hub by 2030.
Saudi Arabia becomes Nintendo’s biggest investor
Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund will increase its stake in Nintendo, becoming the company’s largest outside investor.
Kyodo News interviewed Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud during Tokyo Game Show 2024, and he expressed further interest in investing in Japanese games. As the country shifts away from an oil-dependent economy, sovereign wealth fund groups are increasing their investment in gaming, with the country’s public investment fund taking nearly a tenth of Nintendo’s shares. When asked about the possibility of moving forward, the prince said “that’s always a possibility,” adding that any moves he and the country make to increase their stake in Nintendo will be made in agreement with the company, and that he is looking forward. He pointed out that good communication would be maintained. Nintendo’s stock price soared on news of Saudi Arabia’s continued interest in the relationship, with shares up nearly 4%.
Saudi Arabia is open to further investment in Nintendo
Currently, Saudi Arabia is Nintendo’s largest shareholder, and its control extends to other countries as well. While not the biggest investor, the country owns significant portions of other gaming giants, with around 10% of Nexon, 5% of Capcom, and 9% of EA. Saudi Arabia does not appear to have any plans to directly influence video game development. However, beyond these investments, some titles, such as Spider-Man 2, had various elements censored prior to their domestic release.
As the game becomes more connected to Saudi Arabia, such restrictions may receive more attention. The country plans to host the first Olympic eSports Games in 2025, which is expected to further highlight the country’s growing ties to multinational gaming markets. 2025 could be a defining year for Saudi Arabia and gaming, and adding to this competition is the arrival of a Switch successor.
nintendo
Founding date: September 23, 1889
Head office: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Parent company Nintendo
expand
