Summer Games Done Quick Cancels SNK Stream Due to Ethical Concerns

Summer Games Done Quick canceled its sponsored stream with SNK, citing ethical concerns regarding the developer’s majority ownership by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

Summer Games Done Quick decided to cancel its sponsored stream with SNK due to ethical reasons related to the developer's significant ownership by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. The cancellation took place during the speedrun of Metal Slug, which was part of a partnered celebration for the game's 30th anniversary. The decision was announced by the run's host, Ateatree, after receiving a notice from GDQ.

Games Done Quick (GDQ) also released a statement on July 12, mentioning that the cancellation was influenced by concerns from the speedrunning community regarding human rights issues associated with the Saudi government. GDQ expressed that they will not accept sponsorship funds from SNK and will avoid future collaborations with the developer due to conflicting values.

SNK, a Japanese game developer and publisher, came under majority ownership by the MiSK Foundation, a nonprofit organization owned by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. The company addressed concerns about Saudi involvement in the past, emphasizing that it does not impact their creative freedom.