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Saudi Arabia Expanding Gaming and Esports Presence
The gaming community was recently stirred by news of a potential $55 billion deal where a group of investors, prominently including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), are looking to acquire the major game developer Electronic Arts (EA). If finalized, this would be the second largest acquisition ever within the gaming industry, and it signals Saudi Arabia’s continuing interest and investment in the world of interactive entertainment.
For several years now, the PIF, along with its subsidiary Savvy Games Group, has actively been purchasing shares in and acquiring various gaming businesses across the globe, gaining substantial holdings in several of the industry’s leading publishers. Given the Saudi Arabian government’s history of alleged human rights concerns, these investments in sectors like entertainment, technology, and sports have drawn close attention and raised questions. Below, we highlight some of the major gaming entities in which Saudi Arabia has either a significant stake or outright ownership.