Games Done Quick Abruptly Cancels SNK Stream Over Saudi Ties
During a charity event, Games Done Quick abruptly ended a sponsored speedrun by SNK after community concerns about the company's links to the Saudi government.
Games Done Quick (GDQ) abruptly canceled a sponsored speedrunning showcase with SNK during its summer charity event benefiting Doctors Without Borders. The decision came after the community raised concerns about SNK's ties to the Saudi Arabian government. GDQ cut short the Metal Slug run mid-stream and posted an explanation on social media a few hours later.
Despite the disruption, Summer Games Done Quick still raised over $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders. On Bluesky, GDQ stated that they had heard the community's concerns regarding the partnership, specifically SNK's majority ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the human rights issues tied to the Saudi government. The organization added that it will not accept funds from or work with SNK in the future. It also committed to reviewing and strengthening its process for evaluating future sponsors and partners, including closer examination of companies' ownership to ensure they align with GDQ's values.
SNK is a Japanese game developer and publisher, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's nonprofit Misk Foundation holds a majority stake through its gaming subsidiary Electronic Gaming Development Company. The Misk Foundation's gaming division also owns 5% of Capcom. Many gamers have also expressed concern about Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, chaired by bin Salman, and its recent investments in the gaming industry. The fund owns a similar 5% stake in Capcom and last year joined two private equity firms in a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts.
