Saudi Arabian games group nears $6bn deal for ByteDance’s Moonton

February 14, 2026 - 02:23

Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to acquire Moonton Technology, the mobile gaming studio behind the global hit Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, from Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The potential deal is valued at close to $6 billion, marking a significant move in the global gaming industry's consolidation.

This acquisition would represent one of the largest gaming deals in recent years and underscores Saudi Arabia's aggressive push to become a major player in the global video game and esports sector. Savvy Games Group, wholly owned by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has been armed with a massive investment war chest expressly for this purpose. The PIF has committed nearly $40 billion to Savvy to fund an ambitious strategy of investments, acquisitions, and development projects aimed at turning the kingdom into a premier gaming hub.

The purchase of Moonton would give Savvy immediate ownership of a globally recognized intellectual property with a massive and dedicated player base, particularly strong in Southeast Asia. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a leading title in the competitive mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. For ByteDance, the sale would allow the company to streamline its operations and focus on its core social media and short-video platforms, following a period of strategic reassessment of its gaming investments. The deal, if finalized, signals a major shift in the gaming landscape, with state-backed entities from new regions deploying substantial capital to secure top-tier gaming assets and expertise.