According to a recent US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), chaired by controversial crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, has acquired more than $3 billion worth of stock in famous video game publishers Activision Blizzard, EA and Take-Two. The investment is broken down to around $1.3 billion in Activision Blizzard shares, $1 billion in EA shares and $825m in Take-Two shares. According to Eurogamer, this amounts to around 3.5%, 2.6% and 3.5% of those respective companies' share totals.

This is not the first time the crown prince invested in video game companies as in late 2020, his charity acquired 33.3% of Japanese gaming company SNK stock, making it the largest shareholder.

However, the crown prince's involvement in the video games industry has not always been welcome. In June 2020, League of Legends developer Riot terminated a partnership for a project funded by Mohammed bin Salman following backlash from the eSports community.

SOURCE

 

[nightweb]

Haha Game company's Stock go Brr

 

[jesus96]

Well SNK games seem to get an improvement so I don't know what to think about it

 

[Viri]

Eh, it could be worse, it could be China. I know Saudi Arabia is pretty awful, but it's much better than China.

 

[Xzi]

This really isn't a lot of shares, but it's still kinda worrisome that foreign countries have been buying up so much of American developers/publishers in general. We self-propagandize enough as is without other governments also trying to propagandize us, TYVM.

 

[eriol33]

So every time I buy a game from EA, I support the spread of salafism

 

[tech3475]

This really isn't a lot of shares, but it's still kinda worrisome that foreign countries have been buying up so much of American developers/publishers in general. We self-propagandize enough as is without other governments also trying to propagandize us, TYVM.

Depends, I wouldn’t expect a minority stakeholder alone to have too much influence, subject to any specific deals similar to Netease having a seat on the board of directors at Bungie.

What we can best hope for is that they’re just investing for financial reasons...notice how all 3 of the companies like microtransactions, loot boxes, annual sequels, etc.

Subject to any government interference, investing in these companies seems like a relatively safe bet.

 

[Jayro]

So what does this mean for the average consumer, anything? Nothing?

 

[raxadian]

Cue mining jokes.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

It's about time we got "Harlot Stoning 2K21"

 

[eyeliner]

So what does this mean for the average consumer, anything? Nothing?

Pretty much, as the amount of stock in each company barely makes him have an active voice.
Its only news because of the immense money involved and because of the person behind it.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

These companies will continue to virtue signal LGBTQP+++ support in western white countries while taking money from backwards Islamic nations that stone and behead people.

 

[calwy1]

So what does this mean for the average consumer, anything? Nothing?

It means nothing unless Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman decides he wants to start using the shares he owns to attempt to influence content, etc. at these companies.

Other than that, it's just normal, run of the mill, capitalist investment.

 

[Axido]

So every time I buy a game from EA, I support the spread of salafism

Buying EA games that were released after 2011 is already a minor felony to begin with.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the only acceptable exception.

 

[Bladexdsl]

activision and EA about to get A LOT worse being run by oil barons

 

[spotanjo3]

Wow.. they are greedy for OIL power and now this. Poor Saudi Arabian people lived in poor area.. Highest area. Money lover, indeed. So sad. World is gone beresek. Most human are scums.

No, I am not supporting this one. Did you read the source ? They still have a poor Human rights too. Disgusting. NO!

 

[Pipistrele]

Buying EA games that were released after 2011 is already a minor felony to begin with.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the only acceptable exception.

Titanfall and NFS Most Wanted remake were quite good, just to name a few

 

[raxadian]

activision and EA about to get A LOT worse being run by oil barons

Is a minimum stake so it doesn't really affect the company decisions.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Probably so they can control what games are released and made

 

[Hanafuda]

Am I the only one a little blown away that a BILLION dollars buys only 2-3% percent of any one of these three companies? Jesus.