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Discussion (VGC) Saudi Arabia has reportedly increased its stake in Nintendo again

Petaya Berry said:
This is good.

Nintendo is still too insular. We need more foreign capital on the NCL.
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Please no. I like that Nintendo are doing their own thing, even if it's often not what fans want in the moment. But I feel one reason that they have managed to keep their IPs intact over such long times is that they refrained from excessively monetizing them. If foreign shareholders had more influence, this would surely change.
 
It's almost impressive how people repeatedly show their backsides and naivety in how the world works whenever this happens.

Short of buying back every share and becoming a private company again (which is essentially a no go) there is absolutely nothing Nintendo can do to stop this. Neither can the Saudi government realistically afford to take complete control of Nintendo outright (not only are they too expensive to be worth it, but Nintendo have safeguards in place to prevent a hostile takeover). This will likely have a neglible impact on Nintendo's output or strategy, so people need to stop throwing out wild ideas about what this means going forward.

Saudi's strategy here is an attempt to diversify their insane wealth as the oil dries up (and the gradual shift to green energy happens), while also applying a charm offensive to apply soft power to the main forms of western entertainment. Saudi Arabia has got used to having a vice like grip on the singular substance that keeps western society moving. In a future with no oil, they're looking to spread their influence to our entertainment to the point their money is equally intrisic in keeping our addiction to consumer media flowing.

It sucks, it really does, but there's little we can aside from raising awareness of the issue and applying pressure in response where feasible. And if you're going to take a stance and say 'well I won't support any company which has Saudi shares', well you're likely going to be reduced to going off grid and starting a hobby in wood whittling in that case.
 
Shiba said:
Yeah likely will. I’ve been so detached from Nintendo the last several years that with SA being involved then it honestly makes it easier just to forgo them all together.
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So you're also not playing Ghost Trick and the next MonHun then, i assume?
 
One of these days I too, will have a stake in Nintendo... Which might be closer to 0.00007% but I still hope you will all support me.

Shiba said:
Yeah likely will. I’ve been so detached from Nintendo the last several years that with SA being involved then it honestly makes it easier just to forgo them all together.
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What was it that made you more attached to Nintendo in the past? Switch has seen so many first party games already that I cannot imagine it is because of a lack of the right games, but if not for the games for what then?
 
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Bonejack said:
So you're also not playing Ghost Trick and the next MonHun then, i assume?
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Yeah, I’m pretty hesitant to play anything from Capcom now and like them a lot more than I do Nintendo. Would love to be exited for RE4 and SF6 but really got no interest in them or any future Capcom products now.
 
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Shiba said:
Yeah likely will. I’ve been so detached from Nintendo the last several years that with SA being involved then it honestly makes it easier just to forgo them all together.
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What games are you going to play that SA isn't invested in? Unless you're planning to leave the hobby that number dwindles every year. Also where was this righteous indignation almost a year ago when they first bought 5% of the stock? So them owning 5% was fine, them owning 6% was fine, but them owning 7% is where you draw the line?

Are you also gonna stop consuming Disney products? Or Pfizer medication? Or anything from Amazon? Or Starbucks? Or Microsoft?

You get the point, unless you plan to go live in the woods and survive on nature, you can't sneeze without accidentally sending money to the SA government. Now before you type your response on a smart phone or computer that was likely assembled in a Chinese factory powered by Saudi oil, which also powers this internet connection so we can have this discussion, all I ask is that you don't try and fool anyone. Either that should have been your last post on this Nintendo focused forum to make a point, or you're just a hypocrite who doesn't actually care what SA is investing in and were just looking for an excuse to take a shot at Nintendo.
 
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Petaya Berry said:
This is good.

Nintendo is still too insular. We need more foreign capital on the NCL.
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Do you ever see a take so bad it makes you put someone on the ignore list right away?

Shiba said:
Yeah likely will. I’ve been so detached from Nintendo the last several years that with SA being involved then it honestly makes it easier just to forgo them all together.
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BassForever said:
What games are you going to play that SA isn't invested in? Unless you're planning to leave the hobby that number dwindles every year. Also where was this righteous indignation almost a year ago when they first bought 5% of the stock? So them owning 5% was fine, them owning 6% was fine, but them owning 7% is where you draw the line?

Are you also gonna stop consuming Disney products? Or Pfizer medication? Or anything from Amazon? Or Starbucks? Or Microsoft?

You get the point, unless you plan to go live in the woods and survive on nature, you can't sneeze without accidentally sending money to the SA government. Now before you type your response on a smart phone or computer that was likely assembled in a Chinese factory powered by Saudi oil, which also powers this internet connection so we can have this discussion, all I ask is that you don't try and fool anyone. Either that should have been your last post on this Nintendo focused form to make a point, or you're just a hypocrite who doesn't actually care what SA is investing in and were just looking for an excuse to take a shot at Nintendo.
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What he said.
 
Raccoon said:
to be fair it's pretty easy to stop playing video games, while quitting computers or medication is much harder
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Hard "Depends!" on that one. I mean, yes, it's unlikely quitting medication or refusing to use computers is gonna be easier. But there's definitely enough people whose mental health would nosedive harder if it wasn't for videogames, or entertainment in general.

I'd make a longer post on this entire thing but it's likely not the best thread for this lol
 
Tangerine_Cookie said:
Hard "Depends!" on that one. I mean, yes, it's unlikely quitting medication or refusing to use computers is gonna be easier. But there's definitely enough people whose mental health would nosedive harder if it wasn't for videogames, or entertainment in general.

I'd make a longer post on this entire thing but it's likely not the best thread for this lol
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WestEgg said:
I’d argue it’s not at all easy to quit video games.
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fair enough. let's just say "easier" instead
 
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Raccoon said:
to be fair it's pretty easy to stop playing video games, while quitting computers or medication is much harder
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Sure, but why would you spend your free time posting on a message board about video games if you were quitting video games? Especially if you were quitting video games over a righteous cause like saying "fuck the Saudi government".

You want to make a point? Go sell every video game you own, show the total cash generated from that activity, then show the full donation to a cause helping Yemen or other people who've been negatively impacting by SA. Then weep knowing that the few thousand dollars you donated from that action will be offset within a year from living your life as normal without video games due to all the industries SA has invested in.
 
Raccoon said:
would love to know more
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There are 300+ million arabic speakers in the world, 250+ million portuguese speakers, 150+ million russian speakers.

For these languages, most games are localizated in russian than for the other 550 millions.

More foreign capital can press Nintendo to put more effort in localization.

Raccoon said:
to be fair it's (edit) easier to stop playing video games than to stop using computers or medication
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It is easier to stop using an internet forum about games that runs on a system that Richard Stallman built. But of course, people also can chose to ignore this fact because reasons.
 
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Petaya Berry said:
There are 300+ million arabic speakers in the world, 250+ million portuguese speakers, 150+ million russian speakers.

For these languages, most games are localizated in russian than for the other 550 millions.

More foreign capital can press Nintendo to put more effort in localization.
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oh. yeah that sounds good

not what I was expecting tbh
 
Raccoon said:
oh. yeah that sounds good

not what I was expecting tbh
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People here are much immature and L-O-V-E to be outraged by everything instead to listen anyone.
Of course these people are privileged ones that does not know the sound of a bomb exploding in your neighborough.
 
Shiba said:
Yeah likely will. I’ve been so detached from Nintendo the last several years that with SA being involved then it honestly makes it easier just to forgo them all together.
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So what you're saying is you're going through a standard fandom burnout cycle but you're pretending it's a moral crusade against Saudi Arabia?
 
Some of the responses to this, particularly over on ResetERA, are so just mind numbing and inane that I almost want to give up video games out of second hand embarrassment.
 
Xaltmas said:
Some of the responses to this, particularly over on ResetERA, are so just mind numbing and inane that I almost want to give up video games out of second hand embarrassment.
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It's curious how Nintendo are always held up to an impossibly high standard by some people, who are strangely silent when this frequently happens with other companies. Curious indeed...
 
Oof, it feels like this is going to keep happening, both with Nintendo and probably other developers too. As stated earlier in the thread, at least we know the majority of shares are off the market.
 
Q: A chance always exists that another company might initiate a hostile takeover of Nintendo because they want your intellectual property. Could you let us know if you have any policies or guidelines to defend against this type of acquisition?
Furakawa: We have not adopted what are generally called anti-takeover measures. However, in the case that we face a hostile takeover that would damage the value of the company or the common interest of the company's shareholders, we do have systems in place, both within the company and in connection with outside experts for such an occurrence, to take all legal and appropriate steps against it even if we have not proactively put preventive measures in place. Going forward, we will continue to investigate how we would respond to a hostile takeover.
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FYI:
 
So there's going to be a sticky stating there'll be no discussion about Nintendo games going forward right? Cause for real you don't want to be LGBT+ in Saudi. Mortally dangerous, not just words.
 
WestEgg said:
Oof, it feels like this is going to keep happening, both with Nintendo and probably other developers too. As stated earlier in the thread, at least we know the majority of shares are off the market.
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I do think that, outside of special cases like SNK, they'll likely stop short of having much control of Nintendo and other companies. I don't think they actually want to completely control these companies. It would cause them a number of logistical headaches and would put a lot of scrutiny on them they don't want. They just want just enough soft power to influence the odd decision here or there ("hey it would be a shame if all these shares were to be mysteriously sold and your stock value tank") + diversify their wealth when the oil crash happens.
 
DuskIsHere said:
Mortally dangerous, not just words.
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We've been holding vigils this fucking week for a trans teenager whose murder is being investigated as a hate crime. You'd think you ghouls could hold off on the what-aboutism and the "at least you don't live in SA" dismissals for a minute but what did I expect.
 
Galgavias said:
they'll likely stop short of having much control of Nintendo and other companies
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Yeah I doubt they’re interested in taking control of Nintendo (not to mention they probably know it’s nigh impossible). They’re just playing with their money.
 
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Ramune said:
We've been holding vigils this fucking week for a trans teenager whose murder is being investigated as a hate crime. You'd think you ghouls could hold off on the what-aboutism and the "at least you don't live in SA" dismissals for a minute but what did I expect.
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That's a total lie actually. Police have literally said it had no connection to the person being trans. Stop spreading disinformation my g.

And this is misinformation besides. Will there be a ban on Ninty discussion here or won't there?
 
DuskIsHere said:
That's a total lie actually. Police have literally said it had no connection to the person being trans. Stop spreading disinformation my g.

And this is misinformation besides. Will there be a ban on Ninty discussion here or won't there?
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I know this person was already banned, but seriously fuck this piece of shit
 
Yeah the fact they're investing in other gaming companies should put to rest any fears they're launching a coordinated attempt to 'buy' Nintendo. They're just following the Tencent strategy and sticking their fingers in as many pies as possible.
 
DuskIsHere said:
So there's going to be a sticky stating there'll be no discussion about Nintendo games going forward right? Cause for real you don't want to be LGBT+ in Saudi. Mortally dangerous, not just words.
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DuskIsHere said:
That's a total lie actually. Police have literally said it had no connection to the person being trans. Stop spreading disinformation my g.

And this is misinformation besides. Will there be a ban on Ninty discussion here or won't there?
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Hey all, this post is simply to inform the community that we've opted to permanently ban this member for their rhetoric. In addition to their overtly offending posts in this thread, they also recently exhibited similar behavior in the socialism thread. Considering the severity of these offenses, we hope the course of action we took is understandable.

- Aurc, Derachi, Red Monster, PixelKnight
 
What do people expect a boycott to change? Considering that Nintendo has very little influence on who buys their shares?
So even if a lot of people would create a widescale boycott, at most it may dent stock prices... making it even cheaper for SA and other funds to increase their shares...? I just don't get this kind of logic.
 
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DuskIsHere said:
That's a total lie actually. Police have literally said it had no connection to the person being trans. Stop spreading disinformation my g.

And this is misinformation besides. Will there be a ban on Ninty discussion here or won't there?
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For the record for those reading this thread without context the cops initially said that there was no evidence to suggest that the murder of Brianna Ghey was a hate crime. Saying there is no evidence of a hate crime is not the same thing as saying it wasn't a hate crime. Next the cops then said two days ago that they were investigating the possibility of it being a hate crime.

And most importantly even if the cops said categorically that it wasn't a hate crime (they haven't) why should we believe them? They get shit wrong all the time, often (but not always) purposfully to cover their own asses or make things easier for themselves or because of their own hate for people or groups. Even from my own experiences alone I wouldn't trust what the cops say about simple facts of events that they witnessed never mind something as complex as their opinion of the motive of a murderer based on their assessment of the evidence.
 
Luggage said:
Sorry for double post, but if it wasn’t clear, I was just making a dumb joke.

Can they actually have a lot of influence over Nintendo?
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Ha! No one has influence on Nintendo not even gaming industry standards.
 
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www.bloomberg.com

Saudi Arabia Becomes Largest Outside Shareholder of Nintendo

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund became the largest outside shareholder of Nintendo Co. on Friday, in the latest move by the Gulf state to lower its reliance on oil.
www.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com
The fund now owns 8.3% of the Kyoto-based company, according to its latest filing, building up a position that stood just above 6% at the start of the year. That puts PIF ahead of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund and behind only Nintendo’s own holding.
“The Nintendo purchase, as well as investments in game companies around the world, is part of Saudi Arabia’s long-term project to become less reliant on oil,“ said Akira Takatoriya, a consultant who works with Japanese companies exporting pop culture content to the Middle East.

“I think PIF is not even done and wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to increase its stake in Nintendo going forward,“ Tokyo-based industry consultant Serkan Toto said.
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www.gamedeveloper.com

Saudi wealth fund increases stakes in EA and Take-Two Interactive

Saudi Arabia has upped its stake in major U.S. game publisher EA and Take-Two Interactive.
www.gamedeveloper.com www.gamedeveloper.com
Saudi Arabia has upped its stake in major U.S. game publisher EA and Take-Two Interactive.


As spotted by Axios, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), a state-backed organization chaired by deputy prime minister and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, has increased it stake in EA to 5.8 percent from 5.1 percent. That's according to an SEC filing submitted in December 2022.

Another SEC filing submitted at the same time shows PIF also increased its stake in Grand Theft Auto maker Take-Two to 6.8 percent from 5.3 percent.
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This is an unfortunate part of capitalism, anyone can buy stakes in a publicly traded company. My guess is they’re just doing what Tencent did a few years ago. It sucks.
 
Haziqonfire said:
This is an unfortunate part of capitalism, anyone can buy stakes in a publicly traded company. My guess is they’re just doing what Tencent did a few years ago. It sucks.
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what's the fortunate part?

1IzO5e.gif
 
Raccoon said:
what's the fortunate part?

1IzO5e.gif
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It's the huge fortune I'm gonna amass when I put all my money in Nintendo stocks because I read forums all day, and know corporate secrets that even the Wall Street elite are unaware of. Care to join me? If you give me 1,000 of your dollars I can turn it into 10,000 and then 100,000 within 5 years or less. What do you say?
 
I regularly bank my coins. You folks will never know how powerful I truly am!
 
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