Games Done Quick (GDQ), one of the world's largest speedrunning charity organizations, has canceled its newly announced partnership with SNK just hours after revealing the collaboration. The decision came after members of the speedrunning community raised concerns about SNK's ownership, prompting organizers to reverse course on the same day.
The partnership was intended to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Metal Slug" with a series of special speedruns during Summer Games Done Quick 2026.
However, following widespread criticism, GDQ announced it would no longer accept sponsorship from the publisher or continue the planned collaboration.
GDQ Responds to Community Concerns
GDQ initially announced the sponsorship on July 12, introducing a dedicated "Metal Slug" showcase in partnership with SNK.
Shortly after the announcement, community members questioned the collaboration because SNK is majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) through the MiSK Foundation.
In response, GDQ released a public statement acknowledging the concerns and admitting the partnership did not meet the organization's standards.
The charity said accepting sponsorship from SNK conflicted with its long-standing commitment to inclusivity and human rights.
Organizers also acknowledged they had failed to conduct the level of internal review expected by the community before approving the collaboration.
GDQ confirmed it would not accept sponsorship funding from SNK and stated that it has no plans to pursue future partnerships with the company.
'Metal Slug' Showcase Cut Short During Livestream
The cancellation occurred while the sponsored programming was already underway.
One "Metal Slug" speedrun had already been completed before organizers stopped the remaining showcase.
During the livestream, a GDQ host informed viewers that the rest of the scheduled "Metal Slug" runs had been canceled due to the organization's decision to end the partnership.
The abrupt announcement surprised both runners and viewers, making it one of the fastest sponsorship reversals in Games Done Quick's history.
Why SNK's Ownership Became Controversial
Aside from "Metal Slug," SNK is the developer and publisher behind popular franchises including "The King of Fighters," "Samurai Shodown," and "Fatal Fury."
The controversy stems from the company's ownership structure. In 2022, Saudi Arabia's MiSK Foundation, which is closely associated with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, became the majority owner of SNK through investments linked to the country's Public Investment Fund.
Saudi Arabia has faced sustained international criticism over its human rights record, including concerns related to freedom of expression, LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Those concerns led many GDQ supporters to question whether the sponsorship aligned with the charity's values and mission, per Kotaku.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 Raises More Than $2.4 Million
Despite the sponsorship controversy, Summer Games Done Quick 2026 concluded successfully as one of the gaming community's largest annual charity events.
The week-long speedrunning marathon featured dozens of games and raised more than $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), continuing GDQ's long history of supporting humanitarian causes.
