Savvy Games Group Acquires Moonton for $6B in Strategic Gaming Push

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 23-03-2026

3 min

Savvy Games Group will buy Moonton for over $6 billion from ByteDance.

Moonton’s Mobile Legends is a major mobile e-sports hit across Asia.

The deal supports Saudi Arabia’s diversification and growing gaming ambitions.

ByteDance is stepping back from gaming to focus on artificial intelligence.

Moonton will stay independent, with leadership and “creative momentum” intact.

Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group is making another bold play in the global gaming arena, this time snapping up Moonton, the studio behind the hugely popular Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The deal, reportedly valued at more than $6 billion, sees Savvy acquire the Shanghai-based company from ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant best known for TikTok.

Moonton is no small trophy. Its flagship title, Mobile Legends, has built a massive following across Asia, the Middle East and beyond, becoming a mainstay in mobile e-sports tournaments. ByteDance had only acquired the studio in 2021 for around $4 billion, so this quick turnaround definately signals a shift in priorities.

For Savvy Games Group, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, this move fits neatly into a much larger puzzle. The Kingdom has been pouring serious capital into gaming and e-sports as part of its economic diversification strategy. Not long ago, Saudi Arabia’s Electronic Gaming Development arm picked up a 5.03% stake in Capcom, the Japanese publisher behind heavyweights like Street Fighter and Resident Evil. Piece by piece, the country is building influence across the gaming value chain. And believe it or not, few regions are moving as fast in this space.

Moonton, for its part, is expected to continue operating independently from its headquarters in Shanghai, with its current leadership team remaining in place. That kind of arrangement is often designed to keep creative momentum intact. After all, when a studio has a community as loyal as Mobile Legends does, the last thing you want is to fix what isn’t broken.

ByteDance’s decision to sell also reflects a broader recalibration. The company has been stepping back from gaming to double down on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. On the flip side, gaming is becoming a cornerstone investment theme for sovereign-backed funds in the Gulf. Different roads, different bets.

From where I stand, watching MENA’s startup and investment scene evolve over the years, this feels like more than just another acquisition. At Arageek, we’ve often talked about how the region is no longer content with being a consumer of global tech trends. It wants a seat at the table. Deals like this show that ambition in action. I reckon some critics will question the price tag, over $6 billion is no small change, but if the aim is long-term positioning in a $200+ billion global gaming industry, it could prove spot on.

Of course, integrating cultures, navigating geopolitics, and keeping gamers happy is never a walk in the park. The gaming community can be vocal, and when changes happen behind the scenes, people notice. That said, Savvy has so far signalled that it intends to let Moonton run its own race.

One thing is clear: Saudi Arabia isn’t dipping its toes in gaming anymore. It’s diving in, headfirst. And for founders and investors across MENA watching these moves, it’s a reminder that the region’s capital is increasingly shaping industries far beyond its borders. Not bad at all, you know?

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