Reports have emerged that Saudi Arabia has once again increased its stake in Nintendo.
Saudi Arabia-based Twitter account BRHM reported today the nation's Public Investment Fund now owns 7.08% of the Mario maker, with Trading View reporting the same figure.
The Fund previously took a 5.01% stake in Nintendo back in May 2022, and increased this to 6.07% just last month.
Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in the games space over the past couple of years, with the PIF's subsidiary Savvy Games Group buying a $1 billion stake in Embracer Group and reportedly setting aside $13 billion to acquire a major publisher.
The PIF has also taken stakes in Capcom and Nexon, while the crown prince of Saudi Arabia's Electronic Gaming Development Company – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation – owns 96% of SNK.
These investments have sparked controversy, as Saudia Arabia is known to have a poor human rights record -- declaring homosexuality to be a crime, for example, and one punishable by everything from flogging to execution.
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
Read more on gamesindustry.biz