Games Done Quick (GDQ) announced and then quickly canceled a sponsored Metal Slug speedrunning stream during its Summer Games Done Quick 2026 event due to backlash over SNK's ownership ties to Saudi Arabia. The stream celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Metal Slug series went live on July 12 but was cut short mid-event amid strong community criticism regarding human rights concerns connected to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) [1, 2, 3, 4].
SNK is 96% owned by Electronic Gaming Development Company, a subsidiary of the Misk Foundation founded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The PIF also holds stakes in other game companies such as Capcom, estimated around 5-10% ownership [1, 2, 4].
GDQ apologized for failing to adequately vet the sponsorship deal, stating, "We failed to conduct the level of review our community should expect from us and that was an oversight we deeply regret and take full responsibility for." The organization confirmed it would not accept funds from SNK or work with the company again, citing the partnership's conflict with GDQ's commitment to human rights and inclusivity. They added, "We have heard the 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" [1, 3].
The cancellation statement explicitly acknowledged concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including links to the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and military actions in Yemen [1, 2, 3]. GDQ also apologized to the stream host and speedrunners involved, noting they were not responsible for the sponsorship decision [1, 2].
Following the incident, GDQ pledged to review and strengthen its sponsor evaluation process to include closer scrutiny of company ownership to ensure alignment with its values [2, 4].
Despite the controversy, Summer Games Done Quick 2026 successfully raised approximately $2,408,701 for Doctors Without Borders, continuing its tradition of charity fundraising in the speedrunning community [1, 3, 4].
