Artisan CEO will "accept" criticism after opening new studio in Saudi Arabia

26.10.2023 - 12:09 / gamedeveloper.com / New / Will

Artisan Studios, the French indie developer behind Astria Ascending and Super Neptunia RPG, has opened a new studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is prepared to accept any criticism that might now come its way.

The company has opened what it describes as a "regional development studio" with support from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA). It claims the new branch will be the "largest foreign-owned game development studio" in the region and represents the first time an indie developer has been permitted to establish a foothold in the country.

"The studio aligns with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) efforts to create high-value jobs and provide local talent with international gaming experience. The studio reflects the Saudi government's commitment to diversifying the economy by attracting companies that are leaders in their sector with exciting new investment opportunities," reads a press release.

"The expansion grows Artisan's development capabilities and expands into publishing its titles. Artisan will use this new studio to grow its global footprint and become the first independent console game developer in the MENA region. Artisan wants to collaborate with local artists from across the region to create new IPs to export globally."

Discussing the move during an email Q&A with Game Developer, Artisan CEO and co-founder Mario Rizzo said the company was able to establish the Riyadh studio after being invited into a program called "Ignite" by MISA, allowing it to secure the business license needed to operate in Saudi Arabia as a foreign-owned company.

Rizzo says that partnership came about after he was invited to Riyadh to speak at an IGDA event last November by Nine66, which is part of the Savvy Games Group owned by the Saudi state-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Notably, PIF is chaired by Saudi Arabia's deputy prime minister and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, who has been accused of allowing human rights activists to be tortured and faced allegations over potential links to the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Recently, PIF has invested in major studios including Embracer, EA, Nintendo, and Take-Two.

It was at that IGDA event that Rizzo was introduced to MISA, eventually providing Artisan with a pathway into the territory. "The role of MISA is to facilitate everything you need to setup a foreign company in the Kingdom. It’s also important to keep in mind that foreign companies normally cannot setup in the KSA without Saudi ownership. This is why you have not previously heard of foreign game studios setting-up in the KSA," explained Rizzo.

Rizzo said Artisan is unable to discuss the terms of the deal it signed with MISA, which is an official branch of the