EDIT (10/8): PIF reduces stock in Nintendo

Update: Nintendo Everything/CNBC

Stock is down from 8.58 to 7.54. Cold feet after the rumors, I guess. Either way, they need to be protested out.

Original post:

Reuters/Kyodo News/Eurogamer

"There are always opportunities," said vice chair Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud at Tokyo Game Show, but stressed: "It's important to keep the communication going so you get there in the right way. We don't want to rush into anything."

Currently, the PIF is the second largest stakeholder, behind Nintendo themselves. And holy crap, are they close.

Really not liking the Saudi gov take over of the industry. Also hope Nintendo has plans to thwart a hostile takeover like they said in 2019, even with Japanese laws in mind.

(Don't smoke, people! Spike Spiegel is a mood...)

👎. I have nothing more to add.

What does xenophobia have to do with system wars?

Let me guess Japan should stay "pure" and only have native ethnic japanese own, work and trade in their business?

Thankfully the majority of the Japanese do not share your sentiment. I am not the biggest fan of Saudi Arabia but if they go through the legal channels than they can do whatever they want.

Awesome. I can't wait for them to influence gaming heavily with their values.😏

Has nothing to do with EITHER of that, more to do that these investments comes straight from their government via a front, just like Tencent and their connections to the CCP. Some of us aren't fans of money going to shady regimes.

@Pedro: there are many rpg games I’ve noticed with Arabian style themes.

@dark_drag765: you’re right. A hostile takeover is really out of the question, for the reasons that you already may know.

Then let's start with America, the shadiest regime of them all... We should boycott all American products.

Nintendo is one of the corporations protected by Japanese law from a foreign takeover. If it was possible for a foreign takeover, then Microsoft would've already taken over Nintendo a long time ago. Americans, Chinese or Saudis can never buy out Nintendo for as long as it's protected by Japanese law.

Hey if they can force Nintendo to make games for adults then i'd be all for it.

@Jag85: Good.

Good, Nintendo needs to pay its lawyers.

lol. Nice name.

Saudia arabia is one of the best country on earth.

Haters hate this beautiful country because its cool.

That reminds me after... one year ago today (my timezone)/yesterday (UK timezone), where the hell were YOU when Capcom decided to work with a company accused of supporting a state linked to mass murder after a certain attack JUST for iconic licensed fighters to return? Surprised you didn't shame anyone buying the MvC: Fighting Collection because of that.

Because IF said state had a front that did a similar investment into Nintendo, I'd know you'd be singing a different tune.

If we ignore the country completely shitting on human rights, sure.

I thought he was the new protagonist for the next Assassins Creed game.

Saudia Arabia has changed beside punishing criminal is not human rights abuse. that's why they have lowest crime rate.

the country is beautiful place to live. lot of my relative and friends live there.

there's 0 chance that's his full name either

@ghosts4ever hope none belong to sexual minorities

@Litchie: And assisted Elon Musk in ruining Twitter.

And killed an American journalist with the son-in-law of the last US president trying to cover it up.

Arab money

It sucks that an evil corporation like Disney might get some licensing fees or royalties from Marvel vs. Capcom, but it's peanuts compared to how much money Disney makes from movies, shows, merchandise and theme parks. It would make far more sense to boycott Disney movies, shows, merch and theme parks instead.

I wouldn't be surprised if said state already has investments in Nintendo or other big video game companies.

@Jag85: Why do you peddle the Japanese law wont allow a Japanes company being bought by a foreign company bs?

If that were true then how did Zenimax (American company) acquire Tango Gameworks (Japanes company) then?

Preach!

My opinion on Saudi Arabia is that the US should have invaded them instead of Iraq and Afghanistan.

You can probably guess how I feel about the Saudi Royal Family owning a lot of anything...

@Jag85: So, what's the problem here? First you defend Tencent (who have CCP connections) in that Ubisoft thread, now the Saudi Crown and their investments (even the last time this was discussed), and "whatabouted" America (speaking of, guess where Disney and Marvel are from?), even though I've yet to see the two major parties of the US have fronts like the Saudi Crown and the CCP do for stuff like this (individually for each congressperson or senator maybe, but at least one bill in the introduced stage to prevent that).

You and I both know the Saudi Crowns and I****li leadership both blow rocks so...

Pretty much. I know Nintendo is publicly traded, but that doesn't mean I have to like the PIF getting their nose in everything. I hated it when they bought out SNK.

Tango Gameworks is a small Japanese company. It's not protected under the law. Japan published a list of over 500 companies protected from foreign takeovers, including most of the big game companies like Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Capcom, Konami, Square Enix, etc.

Can you share the law you are referencing which explicitly list these companies?

You pull "whataboutisms" all the time, like bringing up the CCP out of nowhere.

I've yet to see the two major parties of the US have fronts like the Saudi Crown and the CCP do for stuff like this (individually for each congressperson or senator maybe, but at least one bill in the introduced stage to prevent that).

America is a plutocracy run by corporations via lobbying groups, i.e. bribery and corruption.

You and I both know the Saudi Crowns and I****li leadership both blow rocks so...

Saudis and I***l are both armed and funded by America.

@Jag85: So it's not so much a law for all, but some sort of favouritism to the top companies.

So if these business were to fail would the Japanese government bail them out or let them close, rather than be bought?

My main concern is this is done under the guise of the Saudi Government but, as a monarchy, it is essentially under the control of the Saudi Family, which in turn is under the iron rule of a single patriarch at any time.

It should be noted that this is the same family that killed their own daughter, Princess Mishaal, for simply choosing who she wanted to sleep with. I'm sure the majority of adult male Saudis were fine with this, but the rest of the world is not (or should not).

This is also the same family/monarchy/government that has ties to sponsoring terrorism, torturing and killing journalists, and so on. Who knows, maybe we'll be seeing some gaming journalists getting hacked up in pieces if they take an anti-Nintendo stance.

You mean if a company is on the verge of bankruptcy? Can't really say. I guess the Japanese government might just take the failing company off their list.

Okay? I bring them up because they, like the Saudi Crowns seem to have interest in the games industry for corrupt reasons and are the top two in the world, if not the most publicized.

You really think there aren't Americans that don't know that? Too many of us know it's a long damn battle already. Just because the solution isn't literally burning Wall Street or the White House.

And you're defending one of them. They also hate each other, like South Korea and Japan.

Right, so what you're saying is that you know little of this law other than it exists, so basically the basics. So, in reality Nintendo could be bought then.

Wishful thinking. No foreign investor can purchase Nintendo without approval from the Japanese government.

If you already know that, then you should have no issue acknowledging America is a corrupt regime like China and Saudis. In fact, America is arming and funding the latter.

I never defended anyone. And no, Saudis and I***l don't hate each other. They're both allies on the same team as America.

Looks like the rumors starting the circulate gave them cold feet.

Either way, GOOD that they lowered it a bit. Now to get rid of it.

At least I can vote. At least we don't have a military draft. At least, for now (this election might change that).

Dude, I remember you first defending Saudi investments of Nintendo when the news broke, calling it a "good thing". Either way, they just took down some stock, so progress.

They sure as hell don't agree on one MAJOR thing. And it's affecting that so called "alliance".

Your vote holds no weight compared to the influence of lobbying groups. Their money speaks louder than your vote.

I don't recall "defending" anyone, be it America, Britain, China, Russia, Saudi, or the state that shall not be named... Yanks are so "America f**k yeah" all the time that they can't comprehend the concept of neutrality.

Saudi prince doesn't even care about that issue, but is only holding back from an alliance because he's losing popularity and fears the prospect of rebellion.

@Jag85: So what you're saying is that it's possible. Yet you first stated there is a LAW that prevents overseas companies purchasing Japanese ones.

I think you meed to look into it further because you seem unsure of yourself.

What rumors? They don't believe the Switch 2 will be any good?

Here's a list of the 500+ companies protected under Japanese law:

List of classifications of listed companies regarding the prior-notification requirements on inward direct investment under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act

How many of these companies were ever owned by a foreign investor? There lies the answer to your question.

Ah, you're one of those 🤭

@Jag85: I didn't read your link because it was asking to download a pdf file.

So as we know there are way more than 500 companies in Japan, and if anyone of those started to struggle financially then what happens, does the government bail them out, take them off the list, let them go bankrupt?

Until you provide the answers to this question then everything is on the table.

Download the spreedsheet, look at the list, and see if you can find any company that was owned by a foreign corporation within the last few decades. If you can answer my question, then I'll answer yours.

@Jag85: You're the one who led with Nintendo can't be bought because it's against the law for a foreign company to buy a Japanese one.

Then I provided the example of Zenimax buying Tango, and then you proceeded to privde a spreadsheet that has 500 companies.

I then asked what is the criteria to be on that list and why Tango isn't on it yet Nintendo is, and you couldn't provide a answer.

So you have done nothing but keep saying Nintendo can't be bought, which them being bought is a possibility.

I'm not playing a bit for tat game with you.

You're the one who claimed Nintendo can't be bought, but have provided nothing but a spreadsheet.

Link me to the actual law where it is written as I would like to read about this law that only applies to some Japanese companies but not others.

@last_lap:

Link me to the actual law where it is written as I would like to read about this law that only applies to some Japanese companies but not others.

TL;DR version:

https://www.reuters.com/article/business/japan-tightens-rules-on-foreign-stakes-in-518-firms-citing-national-security-idUSKBN22K0Z4/

Now that I've answered your question, answer my question:

@Jag85: So I read that and the Japanese government is doing this claiming i'ts over national security reasons.

Tell me what national secrets does Nintendo hold?

Sounds fishy to me. If the Japanese government wants to not allow foreign investment then they should just say so, not make up some BS excuse that Nintendo (among others) hold national secrets and thus pose a threat to the country as that's laughable.

And why are you only talking about the list when Tango was bought by an American company.

@last_lap: it’s probably more economical and less National Security. It brings the government tax money. :D

@outworld222: There's more to it than national security as Nintrndo would have 0 national secrets.

Hey maybe Mario is a double agent 🤣