Saudi Arabia to invest $38 billion in gaming
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Saudi Arabia's government-funded gaming conglomerate The Savvy Gaming Group will invest $37.8 billion in gaming as part of a controversial effort to expand the kingdom's role in the sector.
Why it matters: Savvy is primed to buy up a lot of gaming companies and start many of its own.
Details: Savvy has earmarked more than $13 billion "for the acquisition and development of a leading game publisher to become a strategic development partner," according to the kingdom's press agency.
- Another $18 billion is pegged for minority investments.
- Savvy's efforts are expected to establish 250 game companies and create 39,000 jobs, the press agency noted.
- The investments are announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Catch up quick: Savvy emerged on the scene in January, when it announced the purchase of esports organizations ESL and Faceit for $1.5 billion.
- In March, Savvy CEO Brian Ward said the group had the largest start-up capital ever provided by the Saudi government's public investment fund.
- Savvy's ambitions are local and global, with plans to build esports organizations in the Middle East and studios making games for a worldwide audience.
- In June, Savvy announced a $1 billion investment into Swedish gaming conglomerate The Embracer Group.
- That's in addition to several multi-billion dollar investments from the Saudi government into EA, Take-Two, Activision, Nintendo and more.
Between the lines: Saudi and Savvy officials say this money is meant to diversify the country's economy, part of the country's Vision 2030 plan.
- But many critics eye the moves skeptically, seeing them as attempted clean-up for the kingdom's record on human rights, including suppression of its citizens and its support for the war in Yemen.
- The Crown Prince, who has been implicated in the brutal assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, chairs Savvy's board.
- In March, Ward told Axios he was "not over there on an image makeover project," and said Savvy's goals were real and for the betterment of the gaming sector.
Go deeper:
- Interview: New Saudi gaming company is well-funded and controversial
- Saudi Arabia invests $1b in Embracer Group gaming corporation
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