Games Done Quick is best known for its feel-good moments like a dog hitting a walk-off home run in a baseball video game while raising money for charity. However, this year’s Summer Games Done Quick charity stream ran into controversy after GDQ announced a sponsored stream with SNK only to cancel it shortly thereafter due to players angered over the latter’s ties to Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, July 12, SGDQ announced it was partnering with SNK to stream a sponsored speedrun of Metal Slug in support of the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
Under three hours later, GDQ reversed course and announced the cancellation of the stream citing “concerns from our community regarding this partnership, specifically the company’s majority ownership by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and the human rights concerns tied to the Saudi government.”
In subsequent posts, GDQ apologized to the streaming host and speed runners and pledged that it wouldn’t accept any future sponsorships from SNK. The organization also reiterated its support for human rights and inclusivity before promising to “review and strengthen our process for evaluating future sponsors and partners, including closer examination of companies’ ownership, to make sure they’re aligned with our values.”
Saudi Arabia already has a deep footprint in the gaming realm, including the developer of Pokemon Go. However, the biggest Saudi deal is the still in-progress $55 billion buyout for control of EA, one of the biggest video game publishers in the world. Video game unions have come out against the EA sale, and Saudi Arabia’s involvement has also drawn the scrutiny of the U.S. Senate over potential “foreign influence.” Regardless, the EA buyout is likely to receive approval even though players continue to protest against it.