• Saudi’s Ayar, linked to PIF, acquires stakes in four major Japanese gaming companies, signaling a diverse investment strategy.
• Capcom, Bandai Namco, Nexon, and Koei Tecmo shares rose following the announcement, highlighting investor confidence in the gaming sector.
• PIF views gaming as key to economic diversification, acquiring Scopely and joining a consortium to buy Electronic Arts for USD 55B.

Ayar

Saudi’s Ayar First Investment Company, linked to the Public Investment Fund (PIF), invested in four major Japanese gaming companies. 

According to Asharq Business, disclosures were submitted to Japan’s Ministry of Finance detailing the stakes in these gaming companies.

The investment company acquired a 6.6% stake in Capcom, known for the Street Fighter franchise. It also acquired a 5.05% stake in Bandai Namco, the developer behind popular titles like Tekken and Pac-Man. It is also detailed that Ayar owns a 10.71% stake in Nexon and a 9.3% stake in Koei Tecmo. These investments are a reflection of Ayar’s mission to have a diverse investment approach in the Japanese market.

According to Bloomberg’s data, these companies saw notable gains in their shares after the announcement. Furthermore, Capcom’s stock rose 4.8%, while Bandai Namco rose up to 3.7%.

Gaming

This move is part of the Public Investment Fund’s strategy to expand its international portfolio in the gaming sector. Moreover, gaming has become a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification vision.

For Saudi Arabia, these acquisitions go beyond gaming. The PIF views the sector as cultural infrastructure, as vital for global influence as sports and film.

In 2023, the PIF via Savvy Games bought Scopley for USD 4.9 billion. Scopely is one of the biggest names in mobile gaming, with its most successful game being ‘Monopoly Go,’ which generates more than USD 3 billion in revenue. Furthermore, its latest deal is part of a consortium to acquire Electronic Arts (EA) for USD 55 billion.