The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund is currently exploring a massive internal restructuring that would see the merger of Electronic Arts and Savvy Games Group into a single, unified gaming entity, a move that would fundamentally reshape the global interactive entertainment landscape. According to reports from Bloomberg, this potential consolidation aims to create an unrivaled "gaming supergroup" by bringing together some of the industry’s most profitable intellectual properties, mobile development expertise, and esports infrastructure under one centralized management structure. While the discussions are ongoing, sources close to the matter indicate that a final decision regarding the merger is contingent upon the completion of Savvy Games Group’s pending $6 billion acquisition of Moonton, the developer behind the mobile phenomenon Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
This strategic move marks the latest evolution in Saudi Arabia’s aggressive expansion into the video game sector, a pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative. By consolidating its gaming assets, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) seeks to streamline its operations and maximize synergies between its Western console-focused acquisitions and its high-growth mobile gaming investments. The proposed merger would effectively combine the massive publishing power of Electronic Arts (EA)—the maker of blockbuster franchises like EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, The Sims, and Apex Legends—with the mobile-first expertise of Scopely and the technological foundations of the Niantic games portfolio.
The Strategic Path to Consolidation
The roadmap toward this potential mega-merger has been built over several years of high-stakes acquisitions and strategic investments. The PIF’s journey into the upper echelons of the gaming world began in earnest with its significant stakes in companies like Nintendo, Capcom, and Nexon, but it was the formation of Savvy Games Group that signaled a shift from passive investment to active industry leadership.
In 2023, Savvy Games Group made headlines with the $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely, the developer responsible for the massive hit Monopoly Go. This acquisition was not merely a financial play but a talent acquisition, bringing in a team capable of navigating the complex and lucrative mobile gaming market. Following this, in 2025, Savvy facilitated Scopely’s $3.5 billion purchase of Niantic’s games portfolio. This deal brought legendary titles such as Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom into Saudi ownership, rebranded under the "Scopely Explore" banner.
The most seismic shift occurred later in 2025, when a PIF-led consortium, which included Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, acquired Electronic Arts for $55 billion. The deal took the California-based publisher private, removing it from the scrutiny of the public stock market and allowing for a long-term strategic overhaul. By taking EA private, the PIF secured a foundational piece of the gaming industry, possessing some of the most recognizable sports and action brands in history.
Addressing EA’s Mobile Vulnerabilities
A primary driver behind the proposed merger is the perceived imbalance in EA’s current business model. Despite its dominance in the PC and console markets, EA has historically struggled to maintain a consistent and dominant presence in the mobile sector, which now accounts for more than half of the total global gaming revenue. While EA possesses mobile versions of its major sports titles and the mobile-exclusive Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, it has lacked the hyper-growth mobile hits that define companies like Scopely or Moonton.
Internal discussions within EA, reported shortly after the company was taken private, suggested that the leadership was acutely aware of this "mobile gap." By merging EA with Savvy’s specialized mobile divisions, the PIF aims to cross-pollinate expertise. The data-driven live-operations model used by Scopely to turn Monopoly Go into a multi-billion-dollar success could, in theory, be applied to EA’s massive library of intellectual property. A consolidated group would allow EA’s premier franchises—such as Battlefield or The Sims—to be reimagined for mobile audiences with the technical backing of the world’s most successful mobile developers.
The Moonton Acquisition: The Final Piece of the Puzzle
The current merger plans are reportedly on hold until Savvy Games Group finalizes its $6 billion acquisition of Moonton. Based in Shanghai, Moonton is the creator of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the most-played mobile MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games in the world, particularly in Southeast Asia.
The acquisition of Moonton is critical for several reasons. First, it provides the PIF with a direct foothold in the Chinese development ecosystem and the broader Asian market, where mobile esports are a cultural staple. Second, Moonton’s integration would provide the "supergroup" with a competitive edge in the esports arena, complementing Savvy’s existing ownership of the ESL Faceit Group, the world’s largest independent esports company. The synergy between a premier game developer (Moonton), a global publisher (EA), and an esports tournament organizer (ESL Faceit) would create a vertically integrated gaming powerhouse capable of controlling every aspect of the player experience, from development to professional competition.
Leadership Transitions and Structural Changes
The news of the potential merger comes at a time of significant leadership transition within the Saudi gaming ecosystem. Last week, it was confirmed that Brian Ward, the CEO of Savvy Games Group and a former executive at Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts, would be stepping down. Ward was instrumental in the initial aggressive acquisition phase, overseeing the Scopely deal and the integration of ESL and Faceit.
Industry analysts suggest that Ward’s departure may be a precursor to the structural reorganization required for a merger with EA. A "gaming supergroup" of this scale would likely require a new management framework, potentially one that integrates EA’s existing executive suite more deeply into the PIF’s overarching strategy. The departure of a high-profile CEO often signals a shift from an "acquisition phase" to an "operational integration phase," where the focus moves from buying assets to making them work together efficiently.
Financial Implications and Market Positioning
The financial scale of a combined EA-Savvy-Moonton entity would be unprecedented. With EA’s $55 billion valuation at the time of its privatization, combined with Savvy’s multi-billion-dollar acquisitions of Scopely ($4.9bn), Niantic’s portfolio ($3.5bn), and the pending Moonton deal ($6bn), the resulting conglomerate would have an implied valuation exceeding $70 billion.
This would place the Saudi-owned entity in direct competition with industry giants like Tencent, Sony, and Microsoft. For comparison, Microsoft’s landmark acquisition of Activision Blizzard was valued at $68.7 billion. By creating a unified group, the PIF would not only possess the titles and the talent but also the massive cash reserves and sovereign backing necessary to outbid competitors for future licenses and emerging technologies, such as cloud gaming and AI-driven development.
Broader Impact and Industry Analysis
The potential merger represents a broader trend of consolidation within the video game industry, but with a unique geopolitical twist. Unlike traditional mergers driven by corporate synergy or market share defense, the PIF’s moves are driven by a national mandate to diversify an economy away from oil.
For the gaming industry, this consolidation could lead to several outcomes:
- IP Revitalization: EA’s dormant franchises could see new life through mobile-first development strategies spearheaded by Scopely.
- Esports Dominance: By owning both the games (Mobile Legends, EA Sports FC) and the platforms they are played on (ESL Faceit), the Saudi group could standardize global esports formats and monopolize the competitive scene.
- Market Polarization: The emergence of such a massive, sovereign-backed player could force other independent publishers to seek their own "mega-mergers" to remain competitive, leading to an industry dominated by a handful of trillion-dollar conglomerates.
However, the move is not without its challenges. Integrating the corporate culture of a long-standing Western giant like EA with the rapid-growth, diverse units of Savvy Games Group will be a complex task. Furthermore, the industry remains wary of the "brain drain" that can occur following massive consolidations, as creative talent often departs to form smaller, independent studios when large-scale corporate restructuring takes place.
Conclusion
As the gaming world awaits the finalization of the Moonton deal, the prospect of an EA-Savvy merger stands as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s resolve to become the global hub for interactive media. If the PIF moves forward with this plan, the resulting "supergroup" will possess the most comprehensive portfolio in gaming history, spanning from the living rooms of console gamers to the smartphones of billions of users across Asia and beyond. The transformation of Electronic Arts from a public American company to a central pillar of a Saudi-led global gaming empire would mark the definitive end of the industry’s traditional era and the beginning of a new, sovereign-funded chapter in digital entertainment.
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