Saudi's Savvy Games Group Seeks Deeper Collaboration with Nintendo and Capcom

Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), seeks deeper ties with Japanese gaming giants Nintendo and Capcom. The goal is twofold: to localize Japanese games for the Middle East and to foster a native Saudi gaming industry.

Savvy, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to create a gaming hub in Saudi Arabia, training local talent and enticing Japanese developers to establish a regional presence. The company has substantial financial backing—142 billion riyals ($37.9 billion) from PIF—and already owns significant stakes in Nintendo and Capcom.

CEO Brian Ward plans to leverage these holdings for more impactful collaborations, focusing on acquiring "genre-leading titles" and enhancing esport capabilities. Savvy's ambitions include expanding its game development capacity, particularly for mobile platforms, with hopes to grow its in-house development team.

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia's broader economic diversification strategy, aiming to shift from oil dependency to a more tech-driven economy by 2030.

Explanation:

• Localization: Adapting a product, like a video game, to meet the language and cultural nuances of a specific region.
• Esport: Competitive video gaming, often organized as professional events and tournaments.
• M&A: Mergers and Acquisitions, referring to the consolidation of companies or assets through various types of financial transactions.