Could Saudi Arabia PIF Want Larger Ownership In Nintendo?

Could the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) buy a larger stake of Nintendo? The fund is certainly considering the possibilities.

In a recent interview with Kyodo News, Savvy Games Group vice chairman Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud was asked about increasing the PIF’s investment in Japanese games companies, including Nintendo and others. While he said there’s “always a possibility” of it happening, the PIF wouldn’t do it without approval of their partners.

“It’s important to keep the communication going so you get there in the right way,” he told the outlet. “We don’t want to rush into anything.”

The PIF currently owns just under 9% of Nintendo, 8.58% to be exact. The fund also has ownership stake in Nexon, Koei Tecmo, and Capcom. The PIF is currently transferring its ownership shares to Savvy Games Group to “create greater synergies”, per Kyodo News. That group is led by the country’s Prime Minister.

Insider Gaming has reached out to Nintendo for comment on a possible increase in PIF ownership. As of publishing, no response has been received.

Recently, Saudi Arabia funded the Olympic Esports Games in partnership with the International Olympic Committee. The first of those games will take place in 2025, and is the beginning of a 12-year deal.

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