Saudi Arabia's state-backed gaming investment vehicle, Savvy Games Group, is in advanced talks to acquire Moonton, the gaming subsidiary of ByteDance, in a transaction valued between $6 billion and $7 billion. The deal could be announced as soon as March 2026. This would represent another major acquisition in Saudi Arabia's aggressive push to consolidate gaming assets, following its pending $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts.
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Moonton's Market Position and Game Portfolio
Shanghai-based Moonton is the studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a mobile MOBA that has surpassed one billion downloads since launch. Beyond Mobile Legends, Moonton has released the auto battler Magic Chess: Go Go, the RPG Silver and Blood, and the cooperative vertical shooter Acecraft.
Acecraft has attracted attention for its classic cartoon-inspired visual style, which shares aesthetic similarities with Cuphead. The game went temporarily offline for U.S. players in recent months, with Moonton committing to in-game compensation once service resumes.
Saudi Arabia's Broader Gaming Investments
The Moonton deal fits into Savvy Games Group's broader strategy to lock down high-performing mobile gaming studios. In 2023, the group acquired Scopely, the developer behind Monopoly Go!, for $4.9 billion. Two years later, it purchased Niantic, creator of Pokémon Go, for $3.5 billion. These acquisitions reflect Saudi Arabia's focus on mobile gaming and live-service titles as core growth areas.
The pending Electronic Arts acquisition, still awaiting regulatory approval, represents the largest piece of this strategy, extending Saudi Arabia's reach into console, PC, and sports gaming. EA's board and shareholders have approved the $55 billion deal, though unions and U.S. lawmakers have called for regulatory scrutiny over concerns about foreign ownership of a major American gaming company.
Political and Regulatory Considerations
The EA deal has drawn attention for Jared Kushner's involvement in facilitating the transaction, with personal financial ties through his Saudi-backed investment group adding a political dimension. Regulatory review and due diligence remain ongoing. If approved, these deals would significantly increase Saudi Arabia's influence in global gaming markets, particularly in mobile gaming.
Consolidation Trends in Mobile Gaming
Saudi Arabia's interest in Moonton and similar studios reflects broader industry consolidation trends, where major acquisitions are increasingly used to secure intellectual property and market share in a competitive landscape. Mobile gaming remains a lucrative segment, with high-performing titles providing stable revenue streams and opportunities for live-service monetization. The Moonton deal, if finalized, would solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a leading investor in mobile games and web3-adjacent entertainment platforms.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who owns Moonton?
Moonton is currently a subsidiary of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.
What games does Moonton develop?
Moonton is best known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and has also released Magic Chess: Go Go, Silver and Blood, and Acecraft.
How much is Moonton reportedly worth?
The potential acquisition by Savvy Games Group is valued between $6 billion and $7 billion.
What is Saudi Arabia's gaming investment strategy?
Saudi Arabia, through Savvy Games Group, has acquired multiple gaming studios, including Scopely and Niantic, focusing on mobile and live-service titles while also moving to acquire large publishers like Electronic Arts.
When could the Moonton deal be finalized?
The deal could be officially announced as early as March 2026, though regulatory processes may affect the timeline.
Why is the Moonton acquisition significant?
If completed, the acquisition would place Moonton among the largest gaming studio purchases in history and further consolidate Saudi Arabia's influence in the mobile gaming market.
