Saudi Arabia acquires $ 3.3 billion stake in EA, Take-Two, Activision Blizzard

Saudi Arabia has used its public investment fund to invest more than $ 3.3 billion (or $ 3.3 million for the most visual learners) in Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive and Activision Blizzard, Al Jazeera reported (h / t Eurogamer).

The move, undertaken by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (known colloquially as MBS), amounts to millions of shares in every company, a decent foothold in the video game industry but relatively small ownership fractions. .

The crown prince MiSK Foundation, a non-profit foundation aimed at “fostering, empowering and creating a healthy environment for young creative talent” in Saudi Arabia, also obtained a third party stake in Japanese games company SNK at the end of last year, with the ultimate goal of taking majority control of the iconic studio.

While not explicitly part of MBS ‘overall Saudi Vision 2030 plan – which, on paper, aims to attract investors and tourism, but essentially boils down to a propaganda campaign to present Saudi Arabia as a a progressive nation rather than the oppressive medieval monarchy that it really is. – his recent openings in the video game industry follow the same pattern as the investments made by his regime sports, sports, and professional wrestling.

MBS was hailed as a reformer early in his tenure as crown prince for, among other things, giving women the right to drive. But its presumed role by ordering the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia continued genocide of the Yemeni people (with the help of the United States and the United Arab Emirates) made it controversial on the world stage.

Last summer, Riot was forced to withdraw from a partnership with Saudi Arabia, which would have seen a League of Legends event promote the kingdom insanely stupid NEOM project, after the reaction of the esports community.