استمتع بـUnlimited مع Magzter GOLD

استمتع بـUnlimited مع Magzter GOLD

احصل على وصول غير محدود إلى أكثر من 9000 مجلة وصحيفة وقصة مميزة مقابل

$149.99
 
$74.99/سنة
The Perfect Holiday Gift Gift Now

Saudi takeover of gaming industry leaves little room for dissent

July 13, 2025

|

The Observer

Saudi Arabia's takeover of the gaming industry was on display this week at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

- Xavier Greenwood

Saudi takeover of gaming industry leaves little room for dissent

The tournament, which sees thousands of players compete in dozens of video games for a share of a $70m prize pot, is the latest of more than 100 major sporting events staged by the Gulf state in the past six years.

The country has committed to spend $38bn across the gaming sector by 2030 through its Public Investment Fund. Via its subsidiary Savvy Games Group, the PIF has taken equity stakes in giants such as Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts. It has also bought up companies wholesale and built local infrastructure.

المزيد من القصص من The Observer

The Observer

The smart course

Britain needs an Australian-style social media ban

time to read

2 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Sophie Kinsella

Novelist who turned the everyday chaos of modern womanhood into bestselling, big-hearted comedy

time to read

4 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Private schools charge councils up to £250k for each Send pupil

International investors are raking in millions from local authorities because mainstream schools cannot provide for the soaring number of children who need specialist support

time to read

5 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Here's Johnny! The return of a Hollywood star too big to cancel

After a spectacular fall from grace, Johnny Depp will play Scrooge — a cruel man forced to reckon with his past. Alexi Mostrous reports on a startling comeback

time to read

5 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Trump has decisive views on Europe – and we cannot afford to ignore them

Compare and contrast these words from two American presidents.

time to read

4 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Uncertainty over budget leaves holiday hangover

Christmas and New Year is often a busy period for family law offices - the unhappy reason being separations and divorce enquiries spike this time of year.

time to read

1 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Nato allies' €1bn fund for defence startups suffers early casualties

A €1bn venture capital (VC) fund to invest in defence startups and backed by Nato allies has lost four of its five founding partners, as well as its chair, in the past 18 months.

time to read

2 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Keir Starmer flinches from the alarming truth that the United States no longer behaves like a friend

Trumpian aggression towards America's traditional allies has become a menace that cannot be ignored

time to read

4 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

Starmer joins Euro leaders in bid to change US peace plan for Ukraine

Keir Starmer is expected to head to Berlin tomorrow for crucial talks on the future of Ukraine with fellow European leaders, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.

time to read

1 mins

December 14, 2025

The Observer

"Many children are captivated by Hitler. Few remain obsessed for so long

Like Nigel Farage, as a teenager I was obsessed with Hitler and the second world war.

time to read

2 mins

December 14, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size

Holiday offer front
Holiday offer back