Saudi Firm Acquires 5% Stake in Capcom

The Electronic Gaming Development Company, a Saudi Arabian investment firm linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has acquired a 5.03 percent stake in Japanese video game publisher Capcom, according to a recent filing with Japan's Kanto Local Finance Bureau.

The firm purchased 26,788,500 shares in the transaction, which it described as a "pure investment" aimed at generating profits through capital gains and dividends. This move increases Saudi Arabia's overall ownership in Capcom to approximately 10 percent, combining the new stake with a separate 5 percent holding acquired by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund in 2022.

EGDC operates as a subsidiary of the MiSK Foundation, established by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and focuses on investments in the gaming sector. It already holds a near-complete ownership of SNK Corporation, the developer behind popular fighting game franchises such as The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Metal Slug. EGDC began acquiring SNK shares in 2020 and gained full control by 2022.

Capcom, headquartered in Osaka and known for blockbuster titles like Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Monster Hunter, has seen its stock price rise 13.4 percent...