Savvy Games and the Next Wave of Saudi Gaming Acquisitions in 2026: Saudi Gaming M&A Accelerates

Savvy Games Group is positioning for a fresh round of Saudi gaming M&A in 2026. The company is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and has framed its growth plan around acquisitions, investments, and commercial ventures, with an ambition to reach “leadership status in the games industry” by 2030. The deal activity around it is already reshaping expectations across the sector. Reuters reporting, cited by other outlets, has described Savvy as ready to make another billion-dollar gaming acquisition, reinforcing that its pace is not slowing as 2026 begins.

The most prominent potential move is centered on mobile. Sources cited by Reuters said ByteDance is ready to sell its Moonton Technology division, and that a deal with Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group is in advanced discussions, with both sides said to have agreed to preliminary deal proposals. The reported valuation range is between $5 billion and $7 billion. Moonton’s valuation is linked to the scale of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, described as having over 1.5 billion downloads and 110 million active players logging on every month. Coverage also noted that, if completed, this would rank as the sixth largest video game acquisition of all time.

How 2025 Deals Set Up 2026 Targets

Recent transactions help explain why the next wave is credible. Savvy Games acquired Monopoly Go creator Scopely in 2023 for $4.9 billion. Scopely then bought Pokémon Go developer Niantic’s gaming division in 2025 for $3.5 billion. Separately, PIF-owned Savvy Gaming Group acquired tournament organizers ESL and FACEIT for about $1.5 billion, and Savvy Games also owns ESL FACEIT Group, which merged two major esports organizers. These moves show a pattern: big mobile exposure via Scopely, paired with esports infrastructure that can support broader publishing and community ambitions.

The broader Saudi investment posture provides additional context for Saudi gaming M&A in 2026. Reuters described the PIF as having made major outlays through Savvy Games Group, alongside equity positions that include a stake in Activision Blizzard and holdings of about 4% in Nintendo and about 6% in Take-Two Interactive. GameSpot also listed notable stakes and investments, including 14 million shares of Activision Blizzard, or about 2% of the company, in 2021 for $1.4 billion, plus 5% stakes in Capcom and Nexon in 2022, and a $1 billion investment in Embracer Group in 2022 that translated into nearly 8% of its capital and more than 5% of voting power.

At the top end of the market, the pending Electronic Arts take-private deal remains a defining signal. Multiple reports describe a $55 billion acquisition of EA by a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Reuters also quoted commentary that the government has earmarked $38 billion for games and sees interactive entertainment as both soft power and long-run monetization, and it cited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman describing PIF’s annual return on esports investments as “15% to 25%.” In parallel, PitchBook reported the same $38 billion earmark and summarized prior deals, including Scopely for $4.9 billion and ESL and FACEIT for $1.5 billion.

For 2026, the open question is not whether Savvy can do another large deal, but what mix of mobile scale, IP, and distribution it will prioritize next. If Moonton progresses at the reported $5 billion to $7 billion level, it would deepen Savvy’s mobile footprint around an established hit with 110 million monthly active players. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s wider portfolio approach continues to blend minority stakes, full ownership, and platform building. Polygon also noted PIF’s expectation that gaming industry revenues top $300 billion by 2028, a forecast that helps explain why Saudi gaming M&A remains a central lever for long-term growth and influence.