Games Done Quick (GDQ), the renowned speedrunning organization, has cancelled a stream sponsored by SNK, the developer behind the iconic Metal Slug series, amidst intense backlash from the community. The decision was made in response to concerns over SNK's majority ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighting human rights concerns tied to the Saudi government. This cancellation comes on the heels of announcing the stream to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Metal Slug series, which was set to follow this year's Summer Games Done Quick event, a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders.
The stream, which was abruptly ended while live, faced immediate criticism from viewers due to Saudi Arabia's notorious human rights record. Notably, Doctors Without Borders, the charity supported by GDQ's recent event, has provided aid to victims of Saudi-led coalition strikes in Yemen, making the partnership particularly contentious. In a statement, Games Done Quick acknowledged the community's concerns, stating,
"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."They further committed to not accepting funds from the sponsorship and to re-evaluating future partnerships to ensure alignment with their values of supporting human rights and inclusivity, including their event Games Done Queer.
GDQ's SNK Stream Pull Sparks Fury
GDK admitted to failing in their review process, acknowledging,
"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."This admission underscores a critical lapse in vetting sponsors, especially given SNK's well-documented Saudi ownership, which is not a new development. The organisation has promised to "review and strengthen" their sponsorship evaluation process to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
The cancellation also impacted the stream's hosts and participating speedrunners, who were not involved in the sponsorship decision. GDQ apologised for the disruption caused to their runs, emphasizing their appreciation for the community's involvement despite the controversy.
GDQ’s Saudi-owned SNK Backlash Reveals Bigger Problem
The swift cancellation of the stream demonstrates GDQ's responsiveness to community feedback. But the damage to trust may depend on the effectiveness of their revamped sponsorship review process. Given the transparency of SNK's Saudi ownership, the initial approval of the sponsorship was perplexing, suggesting a need for more rigorous vetting that considers the broader ethical implications of partnerships.
For the speedrunning community and supporters of GDQ events like Summer Games Done Quick and Games Done Queer, this incident highlights the importance of organisational accountability and the power of collective voice in shaping ethical standards in gaming partnerships. The fact that the stream was intended to celebrate a milestone like the Metal Slug series' 30th Anniversary only adds to the disappointment, as such celebrations are typically meant to unify the community rather than divide it.
SNK's Sponsorship Faces Speedrun Backlash
- GDK cancelled an SNK-sponsored stream due to community backlash over SNK's 96% ownership by Saudi Arabia's PIF.
- The decision followed criticism over human rights concerns associated with the Saudi government.
- GDK acknowledged an oversight in their sponsorship review process and promised improvements.
- The organisation apologised to affected stream hosts and participants.
- Trust recovery may hinge on the effectiveness of GDQ's strengthened sponsorship evaluation process.
Ultimately, while Games Done Quick has taken immediate corrective action, the long-term impact on community trust will be determined by the consistency and rigor of their future sponsorship decisions, ensuring alignment with the values of inclusivity and human rights that the organisation and its community uphold.
