Savvy Games Eyes Moonton’s USD 6B Acquisition to Boost Global Gaming Clout

Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Moonton, the mobile game developer behind the global hit *Mobile Legends: Bang Bang*, in a deal that could value the company at around USD 6 billion. The discussions were first reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter.

If the transaction goes through, it would rank among the biggest cross-border acquisitions involving a Chinese gaming studio. More than that, it would underline how serious Saudi Arabia has become about planting its flag in the global gaming arena. And believe it or not, just a few years ago this level of ambition in gaming might have raised eyebrows across the region.

Moonton, based in Shanghai, is best known for *Mobile Legends: Bang Bang*, a multiplayer title that has carved out a strong following, particularly across Southeast Asia. The company says the game draws around 110 million monthly active players. For anyone who has attended an esports event in the region, you’ll know the crowds are anything but modest. The title’s competitive scene has been a major driver of its popularity.

ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, acquired Moonton in 2021 for about USD 4 billion, as part of a broader push into gaming. At the time, it looked like a bold move to challenge Tencent’s dominance. That said, the expansion did not quite deliver the traction ByteDance hoped for. By late 2023, the company had begun restructuring its gaming operations and trimming jobs. The possible sale of Moonton suggests a wider step back from the sector.

For Savvy Games Group, however, this would fit neatly into a much larger strategy. Launched in 2022 and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Savvy was set up to build a heavyweight presence in global gaming and esports. The sovereign fund has committed tens of billions of dollars to this effort as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification agenda.

Savvy has not been sitting still. In 2023, it acquired US-based Scopely, the publisher behind the hugely successful *Monopoly Go*. It also struck a USD 3.5 billion deal with Niantic to acquire *Pokémon Go* and other gaming assets. On top of that, it invested USD 265 million in Shanghai-based esports operator VSPO, now known as Hero Esports.

From where I stand, watching the MENA startup scene evolve over the years, this feels like more than just headline-chasing. I remember when conversations about gaming in our region were often dismissed as niche or a bit of a gamble. Now, it is spot on to see sovereign capital treating the industry as a serious economic pillar. At Arageek, we often talk about energising founders to think globally, and this is exactly that mindset — only on a sovereign scale.

On the flip side, a USD 6 billion price tag is no small change, even for a fund the size of PIF. I reckon the real challenge will not be the acquisition itself, but how effectively Savvy integrates and scales these assets into a cohesive global platform rather than a collection of impressive trophies. That’s where the rubber meets the road.

Talks between Savvy and ByteDance are said to be ongoing, and no final agreement has been signed. Neither side has publicly confirmed the deal. So, for now, it remains potential rather than definite — though if completed, it would further cement Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the key pillars shaping the global gaming industry, and quite possibly reshape how the region is percieved in the digital entertainment world.

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