Saudi Arabia will very soon develop its soft power via the video game industry. Indeed, the kingdom is preparing to invest a colossal sum in this lucrative environment.
And, to be able to extend its influence, the country is targeting absolutely all areas of gaming.
A smokescreen?
For several years, Saudi Arabia has been trying to restore its reputation with the international community. To try to make people forget its lack of respect for human rights or even its barely concealed abuses (such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018), the country regularly resorts to soft power. After sport via Formula 1, football or even wrestling, the kingdom intends to tackle video games.
As part of its Vision 2030 program, which aims to strengthen the country’s attractiveness, Saudi Arabia plans to invest $37.8 billion in the gaming industry. This astronomical amount will be disbursed by the Savvy Gaming Group, an entity owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). This group has recently made headlines following its takeover of the ESL last January (for 1.5 billion dollars). Another $1 billion investment in Embracer Group was also made official this summer.
Billions well spent?
The Saudi press agency took advantage of its press release to detail the new ambitions of the Savvy Gaming Group. Of the 37.8 billion dollars mentioned above, 13 billion will be dedicated “ the acquisition and development of a leading game publisher as a strategic development partner “. It remains to be seen which publisher it will be…
In addition, an additional 18 billion will be used to make more minority investments. In total, this effort should lead Savvy to create around 250 companies dedicated to video games. This would even lead to the creation of 39,000 jobs. New structures dedicated to e-sport will also emerge. In order to highlight the seriousness of the project, it was Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who made these announcements.
To conclude, Saudi Arabia should continue its rise in the capital of certain major publishers, while creating its own studios (and probably its own games at the same time). What to forget the assassinations, the conflict in Yemen and the constant repression on Saudi citizens? Hard to say…
Source : Axios
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