Creator Drama
Games Done Quick Saudi Link Backlash
Resolved
Cover: GenZHype original graphic. All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 4 events from Jul 12, 2026 to Jul 13, 2026, drawn from 3 sources.
“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.”
via thegamer.com
Background
Games Done Quick is a charity speedrunning organization that has been involved in various gaming events and has raised money for several charities, including Doctors Without Borders.
SNK is a Japanese developer and publisher of games such as Metal Slug and Fatal Fury, which has been wholly owned by the Electronic Gaming Development Company, a subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, since 2022.
Saudi Arabia has been increasingly involved in the video game industry, including launching the Esports World Cup and taking full ownership of EVO, which has raised concerns over human rights and inclusivity in the gaming community.
The timeline
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Games Done Quick Announces Partnership with SNK
Games Done Quick announced a partnership with SNK to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Metal Slug franchise, which reportedly met with immediate backlash from the gaming community over SNK's ties to Saudi Arabia.[980]
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Games Done Quick Cancels Sponsored Stream with SNK
Games Done Quick reportedly canceled the sponsored stream with SNK just two hours after announcing the partnership, citing concerns over human rights and inclusivity, and announced that it would not accept funds from the sponsorship or work with SNK again.[980]
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Games Done Quick Apologizes and Announces Plans to Strengthen Review Process
Games Done Quick reportedly apologized for the partnership with SNK and announced plans to strengthen its review process for future sponsors, including closer examination of companies' ownership and values.[983]
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Games Done Quick begins Metal Slug speedrunning showcase
Games Done Quick began its Metal Slug speedrunning showcase around 1 p.m. PT on July 12, according to Article 4. The stream started as social media posts announcing the collaboration went live, according to Article 2.[3523]
Frequently asked
What was the reason for Games Done Quick canceling the sponsored stream with SNK?
Games Done Quick canceled the sponsored stream with SNK due to concerns over human rights and inclusivity, specifically citing SNK's ties to Saudi Arabia and the country's human rights record.
What has Games Done Quick announced it will do to prevent similar incidents in the future?
Games Done Quick has announced plans to strengthen its review process for future sponsors, including closer examination of companies' ownership and values, to ensure that they align with its commitment to human rights and inclusivity.
More related drama (4)
Sources (3)
- dexerto.com, Games Done Quick canceled a sponsored SNK speedrunning showcase less than three hours after it began, following backlash over the gaming company’s ties to Saudi Arabia. On July 12, the charity speedru, Jul 13, 2026.
- thegamer.com, Games Done Quick Ends Partnership With SNK After Just Two Hours Following Backlash Published Jul 13, 2026, 8:19 AM EDT Sign in to your TheGamer account Summer Games Done Quick 2026 was a massive succe, Jul 13, 2026.
- eventhubs.com, Community gaming events are supposed to bring all types of people together, but what recently went down ended up with quite a lot of division. The organizers of Games Done Quick were going to work wit, Jul 13, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 4 dated events from 3 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Games Done Quick Saudi Link Backlash.”
GenZHype, 9 September 2026,
https://genzhype.com/drama/games-done-quick-saudi-link-backlash-2026/.