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Why did Saudi Arabia capture Pokémon Go?

The Kingdom is becoming a major player in gaming.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has agreed to pay $3.5 billion to buy the gaming division of Niantic, the Pokémon Go publisher. It’s the latest in a string of entertainment and gaming investments by the PIF. BBC tech reporter Tom Gerken tells us why the Saudi government is spending billions on gaming and what the Kingdom stands to gain from it.

Plus: BBC Arabic’s Abdirahim Saaed explains where the PIF gets its money and why the gaming scene is so big in Saudi Arabia right now.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

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13 minutes

Last on

Sat 15 Mar 2025 03:50GMT
BBC World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only

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  • Fri 14 Mar 2025 18:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sat 15 Mar 2025 03:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only

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