Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group is reportedly in talks to acquire Shanghai-based game developer Moonton from ByteDance, in a deal that could value the studio at roughly $6 billion to $7 billion.
An agreement could be reached as soon as this quarter if talks proceed as planned, according to multiple media reports. Moonton is best known for its hit mobile title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arena games globally.
Savvy Games is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and has been armed with tens of billions of dollars to build a global gaming and esports powerhouse. The company is central to the kingdom’s strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and expand its footprint in technology and digital entertainment.
The group’s largest transaction so far was its $4.9 billion purchase of US-based Scopely in 2023. Scopely, the publisher of the blockbuster mobile game Monopoly Go, later acquired the gaming division of Niantic, the developer behind Pokemon Go, for $3.5 billion, further expanding Savvy’s international reach.
A deal for Moonton would significantly strengthen Savvy’s position in mobile gaming, particularly in Asia, and mark one of the largest cross-border acquisitions in the sector in recent years.
📌 Why it matters:
A takeover would underscore Saudi Arabia’s aggressive expansion into global gaming as it deploys sovereign wealth to secure major entertainment assets. It would also signal continued consolidation in the mobile gaming industry as large investors seek scale and established franchises.
📌 Bottom line:
If completed, the Moonton acquisition would rank among Savvy’s biggest bets yet, accelerating Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a dominant force in the $200-billion-plus global gaming market.
