Why is Saudi Arabia buying up the video game industry?
2025-10-12
Why is Saudi Arabia investing in the world’s biggest gaming firms? Our Media Editor, Tom Wainwright, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss the Middle Eastern kingdom’s bid to become a video game superpower.
0:39: Who’s buying EA?
1:06: What does a gaming superpower look like for Saudi Arabia?
2:01: Why is Saudi Arabia investing in gaming?
2:46: Is there more to this than MBS’s love of gaming?
3:26: Is this game-washing—like sportswashing?
5:01: Will Saudi influence change the games themselves?
6:47: What does the future of Saudi-influenced games look like?
#TheEconomist #SaudiArabia #EA
Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/3IU4lEA
With Electronic Arts, Saudi Arabia scores a record buy-out: https://econ.st/4h1Li7K
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