210°

Saudi Arabia invests US$38 billion to become a video-game hub

The Saudi Arabian government is betting US$38 billion on the country’s potential to become the next hub for the video-game industry.

Read Full Story >>
businesstimes.com.sg
Vengeance1138177d ago

They can invest all the money they want, the countries image and their treatment of women will forever prevent this goal. Nobody will touch Saudi Arabia if they don't have to.

Eonjay177d ago

If they make a good game I will play it. I believe that the creative arts are a medium for progressive change. There is something about creating that tends to make people chase freedom. So I will support this.

Rynxie177d ago

Ohm, both Saudi Arabia and China censore or straight up ban games, so you're comment makes no sense.

badz149177d ago

Sony and Nintendo banned/censored games too you know

mkis007177d ago

Not even close to the same. Censoring something fox news will use incorrectly is not the same as banning a game outright because it makes you look bad.

Crows90176d ago

Not true. It all depends on the heart and soul of what is created. Creative arts can also cast a society into depravity and immorality. And they can also create a sense of beauty and deep meaning.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 176d ago
S2Killinit177d ago

They are trying to change their image by buying English soccer teams. MBS of Saudi Arabia is now the owner of New Castle United if Im not mistaken. They will be buying up top players within the next few years similar to PSG and Manchester City.

As for this investment, Im only worried what that means in terms of censorship. I mean we will not even know about it becaise characters will simply be designed with more modesty from scratch if Saudi Arabia has any say whatsoever.

177d ago Replies(4)
Android177d ago Show
177d ago Replies(2)
176d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 176d ago
mkis007177d ago ShowReplies(4)
-Mika-177d ago

''Ward himself is a veteran of the industry, and his lengthy career has taken him through the doors of Activision and Electronic Arts, among other firms. Reportedly, Savvy boasts a $13 billion fund that it can use to invest in – or acquire – a game publisher, but on the subject of Electronic Arts, Ward claimed that the California-headquartered firm would be ‘too big’ for them to pick up.''

Interesting. I'm curious on what going to become of this.

Hofstaderman177d ago

Bobby Kotick must be kicking himself for not holding out 😂

franwex177d ago

He wants to be part of that Microsoft board.

Show all comments (39)
70°

The winners of the GDWC 2023 Summer Season awards have just been announced

"The Game Development World Championship (GDWC) celebrated the 2023 Summer Season with an Awards Stream on Thursday, September 21st. At the event, GDWC announced winners in 11 categories for the Summer Season." - GDWC.

350°

Unity Announces Revised Pricing Policy Following Massive Backlash From Developers

Today Unity revealed a rather radical change to the new pricing policy announced a while ago, following the massive backlash from many of its developers and the wider gaming industry.

Read Full Story >>
blog.unity.com
Vengeance11385d ago

Too little, too late, you're dead. Trust is gone and not coming back.

MWH5d ago

It's ugly, but I think they deserve a second chance only because they, at least, admitted they took a wrong turn, and they want to straighten things up. unlike for example, Nvidia.

Remember, competition is good for the consumers. we don't want them to go out of business, but to do things fairly.

bunt-custardly4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

It's only a matter of time until something else disagreeable becomes policy. The stage has been set. Stone has been cast. Can't rewind time like you can in their game engine.

savedsynner4d ago

Not sure why the downvotes...probably people who have 0 dev experience(or socialists lol). Competition is essentially for quality products.

KwietStorm_BLM4d ago

Get out of here being logical and level headed on the internet. You can only spread hatred and be obstinate with zero exceptions. Obviously nobody being overly dramatic and critical has ever made a mistake. Otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to place permanent judgement on anyone....

mike32UK4d ago

Absolutely not, they've been proven to be chancers. The only reason they are doing a 180 is because they know the alternative is to keep getting shit for being greedy ultimately leading to their failure as a company

anast4d ago

Corporations need to be treated harshly if you want them to change, of course.

notachance4d ago

No

Game development is very costly and takes very long time, only a fool decides on the core engine purely because “muh healthy competition” and risk the chance of Unity making another shitty decision down the line and ruining years of work.

babadivad4d ago

They have lost all trust and there's no coming back.

JackBNimble4d ago

Would you give someone a second chance if they walked up to you and kicked you in the nuts?

Why does unity deserve a second chance? They only walked this back because of the backlash, give them a chance and they will only try it again.

MWH1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

@JackBNimble a kick in the nuts is totally different than making a wrong decision, is it not?

my reasoning is not to side with Unity or anything close to that, it's only because we cannot afford having a monopoly in the game engine market. imagine if, for example, Epic is the only company making game engines, fees will go up the roof and quality will go down the gutter, why? because they can. Just look at what NVidia is doing in the GPU market.

If you can see past your emotions, you'll understand.

@KwietStorm_BLM @savedsynner thank God you exist. but to be fair to others, i think most of the commenters here are too young to view and understand things the way adults do.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 1d 19h ago
savedsynner4d ago

Eh, they are a HUGE game dev engine. Def not dead but massive PR blunder.

ABizzel14d ago (Edited 4d ago )

It’s definitely not too little too late. Companies have been making crazy decisions this entire generation and people have moved right past it.

PS5 Price Hike, XBL Gold doubling in price, Series Price Hike, Games going for $70, etc…. It’s in the news and media for a month or two, then the vast majority of people and gamers don’t care anymore as they move on to the next news topic. Meanwhile, those who games using the Engine are the ones who have to actually do the communicating and work to make sure the solution is fair and balanced for all parties and so they can continue their work. If there is no resolve for all parties after this then there’s no coming back.

What they did do is give Unreal Engine 5 an unneeded advantage over them which was the most ignorant thing they could have done.

Rebel_Scum4d ago

I think you underestimate how long and badly a lot of users on here hold a grudge. They’ve got the sharpest axes.

I agree with your not too little too late sentiment. Everyone makes a bad decision at some point. Let’s see if they can rectify and improve in a way that benefits them, consumers and developers before we start frothing at the mouth.

neomahi4d ago

Sounds familiar doesn't it? Like when Don Mattrick invited everyone to Redmond to unveil a certain console. Phil Spencers been and most definitely his right hand man Executive Fanboy Aaron Greenberg (Head of Marketing - Why would you put a guy like this as your head of marketing, honestly) have been caught in the same thing. Phil Spencer's just as bad and as much of a two-faced about faced liar as Don Mattrick, they just put his under bite more. He's obviously not as stressed because he's packed on a ton of weight sitting as his desk with his feet kicked up playing his Switch and shoving his mouth full cause he's fat now too

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 19h ago
shinoff21835d ago

Pretty much. Any devs future games should not start on unity. They've shown their cards like ms with the original Xbox one reveal.