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[Varteras]

Saudi Arabia has acquired a $1 Billion stake in Embracer Group | VGC

The Saudi Arabia Public Investment has purchased a $1 billion stake in Embracer Group, acquiring 8.1% of the gaming giant’s shares.

www.videogameschronicle.com

Saudi Arabia has purchased a $1 billion stake in Embracer Group, acquiring 8.1% of the company’s shares.

Following the deal’s completion, the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – through its subsidiary, Savvy Gaming Group – will be the second-largest owner of Embracer Group shares.

In a statement, Embracer founder and group CEO Lars Wingefors said: “Savvy Gaming Group’s investment of $1 billion enables us to continue executing our strategy proactively from a position of strength across the global gaming industry

This guy is the new Tencent!

 

[ParaSeoul]

 

[Labadal]

That's brilliant. I'm heavily invested in Embracer B on the stock market.

 

[winjer]

This is a bit concerning...

 

[Three]

This is a bit concerning...

Why?

 

[TheRedRiders]

The Middle Eastern countries, especially from the Gulf region relied heavily on petro-dollars for the past 100 years, and it made them a fortune.

In recent years, they’ve realised the oil will only last then so long so they’ve set up firms which will invest billions into different projects and investments around the world, like buying football clubs, large scale property acquisition and now it seems they want to take a slice of cake from the gaming industry.

 

[winjer]

Why?

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

 

[pqueue]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

I can see a future Kotaku article whining about it already.

 

[Cyborg]

My money don't jiggle jiggle

 

[Fuz]

Why?

Do a little research on him.

 

[winjer]

I can see a future Kotaku article whining about it already.

Probably not. Kotaku is an extreme left outlet. So they are bound to defend anything Islamic and blame it on the west.

I just hope we don't get to have Lara Croft raiding tombs in a burka.

 

[Zeroing]

Ok, time to start planning another hobby than gaming... too many weird things happening in the gaming industry that might have catastrophic effects in the future.

 

[lh032]

"Saudi Arabia Has acquired 51% of Capcom/Kadokawa/Square Enix/etc....."

I wonder when will we see headline like this in the future.

 

[pqueue]

Probably not. Kotaku is an extreme left outlet. So they are bound to defend anything Islamic and blame it on the west.

I just hope we don't get to have Lara Croft raiding tombs in a burka.

except in their world, gay and/or female character projects trump their normal pro-Islam/anti-West stance.,

 

[winjer]

except in their world, gay and/or female character projects trump their normal pro-Islam/anti-West stance.,

You are thinking in logical terms. These people can't do that.

 

[jigglet]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

Finally someone who fucking gets it. Anything that infringes on the creative aspect of an inherently creative medium should be met with skepticism.

 

[pqueue]

You are thinking in logical terms. These people can't do that.

they are typically consistent in their hierarchy of victimhood/

Black > LGBTQ+ > female > islam (when it can be pitted against West ideas)

 

[SoggyBiscuit]

The investment from both the ME and China should be viewed with caution, but it is likely just a way to further diversify their portfolios and take a slice of the pie.

 

[Fuz]

I just hope we don't get to have Lara Croft raiding tombs in a burka.

I don't think you have anything to fear from the Islamic prince.

Spoiler

 

[ParaSeoul]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

You could say the same about the US.

 

[winjer]

You could say the same about the US.

Exactly. And we are already seeing the results.
Do we really need more extremists dictating how games look?

 

[ParaSeoul]

Exactly. And we are already seeing the results.
Do we really need more extremists dictating how games look?

Fair point but SNK was bought out by them earlier and KOF remains unchanged. I'm guessing if this prince is as big as a gamer as he claims to be,he knows censorship isn't what we want.

 

[winjer]

Fair point but SNK was bought out by them earlier and KOF remains unchanged. I'm guessing if this prince is as big as a gamer as he claims to be,he knows censorship isn't what we want.

Maybe. Let's hope it's like you say.

 

[Varteras]

You could say the same about the US.

Exactly. And we are already seeing the results.
Do we really need more extremists dictating how games look?

 

[ParaSeoul]

Probably not. Kotaku is an extreme left outlet. So they are bound to defend anything Islamic and blame it on the west.

One Of The Worst People In The World Now Owns Over 96% Of SNK

Mohammed bin Salman is still looking to buy a better image for his regressive regime

kotaku.com

 

[nush]

Do a little research on him.

I've known him personally since the late 90's. Don't fall for internet agenda reporting.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

Why?

 

[Hawking Radiation]

I don't want this cunt anywhere near my favourite hobby. I was mortified when rumors were going around about the possibility of a takeover of Man United FC, a football club I supported for 25 years.

 

[killatopak]

I've known him personally since the late 90's. Don't fall for internet agenda reporting.

Personally?

Do you have some oil money to spare, prince nush?

 

[Fuz]

I've known him personally since the late 90's. Don't fall for internet agenda reporting.

...personally?

Can I have some money, my good friend?

 

[Mokus]

Ok, time to start planning another hobby than gaming... too many weird things happening in the gaming industry that might have catastrophic effects in the future.

I could rely on the (fucking big) backlog if something like that happens.

 

[Fuz]

Personally?

Do you have some oil money to spare, prince nush?

Goddammit dude! Don't steal my jokes! Yes... joke...

 

[Three]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

Maybe but how is this different to say an American company buying a Japanese/Eastern European one and influencing woke/strange artistic decisions? People seem to have little concern about those and that happens every Wednesday. Even if with 8% they do influence the games being made, let there be more cultural diversity in games I say. Woke, Middle Eastern, hell Hentai, whatever, give me more. I'd rather the differences exist than all the same 'correct' thing from a single country/company.

The Crown Prince himself is a really questionable character though who seems to have too much power and little opposition for the crazy stuff he's allegedly done.

 

[Fuz]

SNK was bought out by them earlier and KOF remains unchanged.

Not true, the flame effects are now insultingly pathetic.

I will never get over this.

One Of The Worst People In The World Now Owns Over 96% Of SNK

Mohammed bin Salman is still looking to buy a better image for his regressive regime

kotaku.com

 

[The Cockatrice]

So no woke shit but also no sexy stuff either? Damn, can I get my games without any poison?

 

[Fuz]

Anyway, he's in cahoot with Renzi, and that's all I need to know about him.

 

[nush]

Personally?

Do you have some oil money to spare, prince nush?

...personally?

Can I have some money, my good friend?

We did business together back in the day, I learned a lot from him about how to conduct yourself in that environment and it's paid off for the guy. That's priceless knowledge.

 

[Griffon]

At this point, just go indie.

 

[balls of snow]

Next Lara Croft gonna be a muslim.
And she will still have daddy issues.
Godammit.

 

[PhaseJump]

Why?

Because Neo Geo console warriors are about to rise from the earth and beat us all senselessly for our lunch money, just as soon as Saudi Arabia gives us new hardware platforms. Be concerned. Game studios are getting investment money. The horror. The horror.

 

[SoggyBiscuit]

We did business together back in the day, I learned a lot from him about how to conduct yourself in that environment and it's paid off for the guy. That's priceless knowledge.

Probably didn't hurt being a Saudi prince either. I'm sure that's paid off for him too.

 

[nominedomine]

Is he worse than Bill Gates?

 

[Craig of War]

 

[I Master l]

Exactly. And we are already seeing the results.
Do we really need more extremists dictating how games look?

Saudi Arabia own minor stakes in Capcom, EA, Take-Two, and Acti-Blizz
and we didnt see what are you suggesting

 

[Lunarorbit]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

Plus bin salaam had that journalist killed. He's an evil piece of shit. Not that I bought snk products before but I won't now.

 

[Wildebeest]

He just really wants to see how that Adam Jason story concludes in Deus Ex.

 

[samoilaaa]

So no woke shit but also no sexy stuff either? Damn, can I get my games without any poison?

its a trade im willing to do , i can sacrifice the sexy stuff for no woke shit , i dont need games to see some tits and ass

 

[PSbigfan]

An extremely religious nation, having the second biggest vote weight in the company, might cause some strange artistic decisions in future games.

Don't believe everything on internet "extremely religious nation"
If You mean by religious (money) I say ok ,if you mean otherwise think's again.

 

[winjer]

Don't believe everything on internet "extremely religious nation"
If You mean by religious (money) I say ok ,if you mean otherwise think's again.

You do realize that after 1979, Saudi Arabia adopted a very strick enforcement of Sharia. This made it one of the most extremist religious countries in the world.

Let me quote Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, regarding Saudi Arabia before 1979.

"We were living a normal life like the rest of the Gulf countries, women were driving cars, there were movie theatres in Saudi Arabia."

 

[SmokedMeat]

Of course they did. Fuck.