
The Public Investment Fund (PIF), backed by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a significant investor in several major game companies, including Capcom, Embracer Group, and Nintendo. Prince Salman also owns SNK, the publisher of games like Fatal Fury and King of Fighters, through his non-profit organization, the MiSK Foundation.
Salman has been actively working to increase Saudi Arabia’s presence in the global entertainment industry, successfully securing the rights to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. He also played a key role in the PIF’s acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club in 2021.
However, it’s important to note that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency reported in 2018 that Salman ordered the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi that year. Subsequent reporting by The New York Times in 2019 detailed alleged efforts by the Saudi Arabian government to cover up the killing and destroy evidence.