Current Events > Saudi Arabia raises stake in Nintendo from 7.08% to 8.26% overnight

(+) Yeah! (+)

Wheres the boycott?

They'll stop at nothing to see Zelda in a hijab and Samus in a burqa.

They'll stop at nothing to see Zelda in a hijab and Samus in a burqa.

Legitimately being bought by Saudi Arabia has been shown to be less intrusive than getting involved with Americans. When SNK was bought out by Saudi Arabia people joked about Mai wearing a burqa but look at it compared to Street Fighter and other fighting games and it's the only one who even had "sexuality" listed in its Teen rating. If they're hands off good for them, great for them! I just don't want my games edited for "foreign sensibilities" like Sony Santa Montica or Capcom USA loves.

It's going to be a real wake up call for them when they try to assert any kind of influence and Nintendo just shrugs them off, both because they are literally protected by Japanese law from any sort of takeover and also because they have enough cash in the bank to suffer something like 50 straight years of losses, so any threat by the Saudis to dump their stock won't hold any sway.

I have never seen evidence for the Japanese law claim.

I don't think it's because "Nintendo did something wrong", but more "Saudi Arabia has committed numerous human rights violations and we don't want to support them".

note that I am not calling for a boycott.

It's going to be a real wake up call for them when they try to assert any kind of influence and Nintendo just shrugs them off, both because they are literally protected by Japanese law from any sort of takeover and also because they have enough cash in the bank to suffer something like 50 straight years of losses, so any threat by the Saudis to dump their stock won't hold any sway.

I highly doubt they try to actually do anything with the stock they own besides make money with it. These moves honestly feel like them trying to insulate themselves from the future (being an oil rich country and all)

Saudi Arabia is about to have a "Juan Carlos" moment. Just wait.

It's going to be a real wake up call for them when they try to assert any kind of influence and Nintendo just shrugs them off, both because they are literally protected by Japanese law from any sort of takeover and also because they have enough cash in the bank to suffer something like 50 straight years of losses, so any threat by the Saudis to dump their stock won't hold any sway.

It's less of a concern that they will influence Nintendo and more that my 8% of my purchase of Fire Emblem: Engage is financially supporting an incredibly oppressive regime that shits on all manner of human rights.

It just isn't a particularly good feeling.

It's less of a concern that they will influence Nintendo and more that my 8% of my purchase of Fire Emblem: Engage is financially supporting an incredibly oppressive regime that shits on all manner of human rights.

It just isn't a particularly good feeling.

A what?

1. Francisco Franco was an asshole who ruled Spain for quite awhile.
2. Franco set up Juan Carlos to be his successor, with the belief that an absolute Spanish monarchy would be re-established.
3. Franco died.
4. Juan Carlos basically said "fuck that" and reformed the shit out of Spain.

Fair point, but this is definitely one of those cases where that sort of concern touches literally every aspect of everyone's lives.

Undoubtedly. And I'm not calling for a boycott or saying that people who buy Nintendo products are pro-Saudi. But it is good to know where the money you spend is going, especially on non-essential luxury goods.

Like there is a difference between my buying gasoline, which I need to live and me buying my anime chess game. Even if they both support the same monstrous regime.

And people absolutely should raise complaints and criticism about the ownership, even if they don't go full boycott because customers should be aware and Nintendo should feel some pressure.

Undoubtedly. And I'm not calling for a boycott or saying that people who buy Nintendo products are pro-Saudi. But it is good to know where the money you spend is going, especially on non-essential luxury goods.

Like there is a difference between my buying gasoline, which I need to live and me buying my anime chess game. Even if they both support the same monstrous regime.

And people absolutely should raise complaints and criticism about the ownership, even if they don't go full boycott because customers should be aware and Nintendo should feel some pressure.

I'll just say this, pick and choose your battles. We all have our own morals and principals we follow and more power to you if you have the ability to purchase something else more "ethical". Just don't be an asshole about it to other people if they don't follow it.

People are seeing it as concerns over Saudi Arabia potentially influencing Nintendo but what if it's the other way around? Nintendo could use their wholesome, secular, and relatively progressive games and media to influence the Saudis to become more open-minded.

Legitimately being bought by Saudi Arabia has been shown to be less intrusive than getting involved with Americans. When SNK was bought out by Saudi Arabia people joked about Mai wearing a burqa but look at it compared to Street Fighter and other fighting games and it's the only one who even had "sexuality" listed in its Teen rating. If they're hands off good for them, great for them! I just don't want my games edited for "foreign sensibilities" like Sony Santa Montica or Capcom USA loves.

It's less of a concern that they will influence Nintendo and more that my 8% of my purchase of Fire Emblem: Engage is financially supporting an incredibly oppressive regime that shits on all manner of human rights.

It just isn't a particularly good feeling.

It comes across people dont want Saudi to get better for some reason.

Thats an awfully simplistic way of looking at things. Cultural changes take generations to fox. They are making the first steps towards that and that should be commended.