Saudi Arabia-based esports organization Team Falcons has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Riyadh-based anime and manga company Manga Productions.
Financial terms and duration of this new partnership were not disclosed.
While the announcement is rather vague, the MoU will see Team Falcons form a strategic partnership with the company to collaborate on marketing strategies, develop creative campaigns, and generally raise brand awareness and market presence for Manga Productions’ products. We assume that many of these efforts will be focused on raising awareness among fans and consumers in the Middle East and North Africa, though we expect the brand to get some exposure when Team Falcons competes on the international stage (which it does frequently) and via its social media platforms.
Manga Productions is a division of the Saudi government’s Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk) and develops anime, gaming, and manga content aimed at consumers in the Middle East. The company is keen on creating content that will appeal to its regional audience and taps into Saudi culture and history, while also licensing gaming and anime content from other regions for the local audience.
Team Falcons is the top esports organization in Saudi Arabia and currently competes in Rocket League, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Overwatch 2, EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty League, Valorant, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG, Call of Duty Warzone, and more. Sponsors include STC Group and Kudu Saudi Arabia. In August it was crowned the first Esports World Cup Champion following eight weeks of competition in Riyadh.
Manga Productions is owned by Misk Foundation, “a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and encouraging learning and developing youth skills for a better future for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” established by HRH Crown Prince Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Projects and companies backed by the Saudi government are often criticized for being used to engage in “sports washing,” or using entertainment to cover up the country’s record on human rights, women’s rights, LGTBQ+ rights, military actions in Yemen, and more. These and other criticisms have been highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.