Saudi Arabia Reduces Stake in Nintendo

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 14, 2024 23 Views 4 Min Read
Saudi Arabia Reduces Stake in Nintendo



Key Takeaways

  • Saudi Arabia’s PIF reduced its Nintendo shares from 7.5% to 6.3%.
  • The country had considered increasing its stake in Nintendo but now appears to be focusing on local investments.
  • The sales might not indicate a shift in Saudi Arabia’s gaming commitment, as it plans to host the first Olympic eSports Games in 2025.



The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has reduced its shares in Nintendo once again. The Saudi Arabian PIF has been investing in the gaming industry for years. Over time, it has acquired major stakes in gaming giants like Nintendo, Activision, Capcom, and Embracer. The country’s continued interest in gaming has even led it down the path of hosting the first Olympic eSports Games in 2025.

The PIF first began investing in Nintendo in May 2022. At the time, it purchased 5.01% of the Japanese gaming titan’s available shares. Saudi Arabia, via its Savvy Games Group division, then went on to become Nintendo’s largest stakeholder in 2023 when it increased its shares to 8.26%. The country’s continued acquisitions have all been in the pursuit of making Saudi Arabia a “global hub” for both gaming and eSports.


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As reported by Bloomberg (via The Edge), Saudi Arabia is once again reducing its stake in the Japan-based gaming company. This is all happening shortly after Savvy Games Group made over $100 million selling shares of Nintendo in October 2024. Based on a filing to Japan’s Finance Ministry, the Public Investment Fund reduced its shares in Nintendo from 7.5% to 6.3%. Such a sale is likely to bring in even more money for the PIF, though it remains to be seen if these kinds of sales will become a trend moving into 2025.


Saudi Arabia Previously Considered Purchasing More Shares of Nintendo


The continued selloff of Nintendo stock has come as a bit of a surprise. In an interview at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud, vice chairman of Savvy Games Group, expressed interest in furthering investments in Nintendo. Continued sales of the gaming company’s stock seem to point toward the PIF shifting its focus toward local investments to benefit its domestic economy. However, there’s nothing to stop Saudi Arabia from reinvesting in Nintendo in the future, especially with the inevitable release of the Switch 2 on the horizon.

It’s important to note that Saudi Arabia’s sudden move to sell Nintendo stocks doesn’t necessarily mean its commitment to gaming is changing. As of writing, the country is still committed to hosting the inaugural Olympic eSports Games in 2025. The PIF’s overall presence in the gaming sphere hasn’t diminished, and it is still a major stakeholder in Nintendo. Time will tell if these sales are indicative of a change in overall strategy for Savvy Games Group or simply an isolated event meant to bring in profits for Saudi Arabia.

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