Company:Savvy Games Group

From HandWiki
Savvy Games Group
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJanuary 2021; 5 years ago (2021-01)
HeadquartersRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Number of locations
29 (2024)
Key people
  • Brian Ward (CEO)
  • Saleh Al-Fadhel (CFO)
Products
Number of employees
3,450 (2024)
ParentPublic Investment Fund
Subsidiaries
Websitesavvygames.com

Savvy Games Group is a video game investment, development, publishing and Esports company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company was founded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, a sovereign wealth fund, to foster the growth of the gaming industry in the market and to invest in the video game industry overall.[1]

History

Savvy Games Group was established in 2021 by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) as part of a broader goal of diversifying the Saudi economy and growing the Saudi video game industry.[1]

In 2021, the PIF directly acquired shares in three American video game firms, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard.[2] In 2022, the PIF took a 5% stake in Nintendo.[3]

Savvy Games Group invested $1 billion to buy an 8% interest in Embracer Group in May 2022.[4]

On September 29, 2022, Savvy Games Group announced plans to invest $37.8 billion in the video game industry, allocating $13.3 billion for the acquisition and expansion of a prominent video game developers and publishers with the aim of establishing them as a crucial development partner, thus positioning the country as a global gaming hub by 2030.[5][6] The initiative includes strategic acquisitions, job creation, and GDP growth objectives. The investment entails acquiring minority stakes in leading game publishers and partnering with established industry players to bolster the gaming ecosystem.[7] The initiative aims to create 39,000 jobs, establish 250 gaming companies, and contribute 50 billion riyals to the Saudi GDP, fostering economic diversification and growth.[8]

On April 5, 2023, Savvy Games Group announced its intent to acquire American mobile video game developer and publisher Scopely for $4.9 billion.[9][10] The acquisition was completed on July 13, 2023.[11]

Embracer Group, renowned for its acquisition of numerous game studios, recently disclosed a major partnership valued at over $2 billion that unexpectedly fell through at the final hour. The identity of the partner was shrouded in mystery until later. In August 2023, it was unveiled that the elusive partner was Savvy Games Group.[12] This failed collaboration dealt a significant blow to Embracer, resulting in a sharp drop in their stock price and necessitating cost-cutting measures such as layoffs and studio closures.[13] Embracer Group has announced plans for a substantial company restructuring, which includes studio closures, employee layoffs, and the cancellation of numerous video game projects.[14] The reasons behind the dissolution of the deal remain undisclosed, but prior to this development, Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors had faced criticism for accepting investment from Savvy, amid concerns regarding human rights violations attributed to the Saudi government. Despite the deal falling through, Savvy still holds its stake in Embracer.[15]

On February 16, 2023, Savvy Games Group announced its investment of $235 million into Chinese esports company VSPO, (now Hero Esports) giving it a minority stake and making it VSPO's largest institutional shareholder.[16]

In 2024, the PIF reduced its stake in Nintendo from 8.58% to 7.54%, though it remains one of Nintendo's largest shareholders. This move comes after earlier reports suggesting the PIF might increase its stake in Nintendo, which were later corrected to refer to Japanese gaming companies in general. The PIF initially acquired a 5.01% stake in Nintendo in May 2022, which had grown to 8.58% by mid-2024. The PIF has been actively investing in the video game industry as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's strategy to diversify the Saudi economy beyond oil revenues.[17]

On February 18, 2025, Bloomberg reported that Savvy and Scopely is in talks to acquire the video game business of the American company Niantic for $3.5 billion.[18] On March 12, 2025, Savvy Games Group announced its intention to acquire Niantic's gaming division for $3.5 billion.[19]

Subsidiaries and stakes

  • Scopely in Culver City, California, US; acquired on July 13, 2023.[20]
  • ESL FACEIT Group in Cologne, Germany; acquired in 2022.[21]
  • Nine66 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; founded in 2022.
  • Vov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; founded in 2022.
  • Steer Studios in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; founded in 2023.[22]

Notable stakes

Company Location Stake worth Ownership stake Ref(s).
Hero Esports Shanghai, China $265 million 30% [23]
Embracer Group Karlstad, Sweden $1.0 billion 8.3% [4][24]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Batchelor, James (2023-06-07). "What is Savvy Games Group and how is it trying to change Saudi Arabia's image?" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/what-is-savvy-games-group-and-how-is-it-trying-to-change-saudi-arabias-image. 
  2. ↑ Rich Stanton (2023-05-18). "Saudi Arabia now owns 10% of Electronic Arts" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/saudi-arabia-now-owns-10-of-electronic-arts/. 
  3. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (18 May 2022). "Saudi Arabia Now Owns 5% Of Nintendo" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/nintendo-saudi-arabia-public-investment-fund-pif-shares-1848941294. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Partis, Danielle (8 June 2022). "Saudi Arabia acquires $1bn stake in Embracer Group". Gamesindustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-06-08-saudi-arabia-acquires-usd1bn-stake-in-embracer-group. 
  5. ↑ "Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group to invest $37.8 billion in esports, gaming" (in en). 2022-09-29. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Esports/Sections/Finance/2022/09/Savvy-Game-Group-plans-investing-$38-billion-gaming-esports.aspx. 
  6. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (2022-09-29). "Saudi Arabia sets aside $13 billion to acquire a major publisher" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia-sets-aside-13-billion-to-acquire-a-major-publisher. 
  7. ↑ "Saudi-based Savvy Games Group unveils $38 billion investments across four sectors - Arabian Business" (in en-US). Arabian Business. 2022-09-30. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/technology/saudi-based-savvy-games-group-unveils-38-billion-investments-across-four-sectors. 
  8. ↑ "Saudi state-backed conglomerate to sink $37.8 billion into video game industry" (in en). https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/saudi-state-backed-conglomerate-to-sink-37-8-billion-into-video-game-industry. 
  9. ↑ "Savvy Games Group to buy mobile game publisher Scopely for $4.9B" (in en-US). 2023-04-05. https://venturebeat.com/games/savvy-games-group-to-buy-mobile-game-publisher-scopely-for-4-9b/. 
  10. ↑ "Saudi's Savvy Games Buys Gamemaker Scopely For $4.9 Billion" (in en). Bloomberg.com. 2023-04-05. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-05/saudi-s-savvy-games-buys-gamemaker-scopely-for-4-9-billion. 
  11. ↑ "Savvy Games completes acquisition of Scopely in e-gaming push". Arab News. 13 July 2023. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2337041/business-economy. 
  12. ↑ Yang, George (2023-08-14). "Embracer Group's Partner Who Walked From $2 Billion Deal Finally Revealed" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/embracer-groups-partner-who-walked-from-2-billion-deal-finally-revealed. 
  13. ↑ Parrish, Ash (2023-12-05). "More layoffs at another Embracer Group studio" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/5/23989128/new-world-interactive-layoffs-embracer-group-insurgency-sandstorm. 
  14. ↑ "Report: Embracer's doomed $2B deal was with Saudi-backed Savvy Games" (in en). https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-embracer-s-doomed-2b-deal-was-with-saudi-backed-savvy-games. 
  15. ↑ Davis, Wes (2023-08-14). "Saudi group reportedly abandoned $2 billion deal with the Lord of the Rings game company" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/14/23831768/embracer-group-saudi-government-lord-of-the-rings-investment-deal-collapse. 
  16. ↑ Al-Atrush, Samer (2023-02-16). "Saudi Arabia-backed group to invest $265mn in Chinese esports company VSPO". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/c7728605-3861-45de-aa76-37e8599e1e7c. 
  17. ↑ "Saudi Arabia has reduced its stake in Nintendo" (in en-GB). 2024-10-08. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/saudi-arabia-has-reduced-its-stake-in-nintendo/. 
  18. ↑ "'Pokemon Go' maker nears US$3.5 billion deal to sell games unit" (in en). 2025-02-19. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/pokemon-go-maker-nears-us3-5-billion-deal-sell-games-unit. 
  19. ↑ Mehta, Ivan (2025-03-12). "Pokémon Go maker Niantic is selling its games division to Scopely for $3.5B" (in en-US). https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/12/pokemon-go-maker-niantic-is-selling-its-games-division-to-scopely-for-3-5b/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFEcij1hV64ZMclhs5D2sjBjvcvulrkSgppkSdflshQ7VmSBL6F9HQ66UzA7LBqjio8pwF4Eetj70Ab8hQ07VflAxnfoqWyxyMY30DfQgTuvXdXuLWOBXR8ngQUk4kO5T0OUH-foHyHNoBsJcxO8Yvi5hO6NaGRKS020DcRglWKe. 
  20. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2023-04-05). "Mobile Games Company Scopely to Be Acquired by Saudi-Backed Savvy Games Group for $4.9 Billion" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/scopely-acquired-savvy-games-group-4-9-billion-1235574675/. 
  21. ↑ Wilde, Tyler (2022-01-25). "Major esports host ESL Gaming is now owned by Saudi Arabia" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/esl-and-dreamhack-are-now-owned-by-saudi-arabia/. 
  22. ↑ Morris, Iwan; Writer, Staff (2023-08-17). "Savvy Games Studios to become Steer Studios in major rebrand". https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/82208/savvy-games-studios-to-become-steer-studios-in-major-rebrand/. 
  23. ↑ https://savvygames.com/about
  24. ↑ Sertin, Carla (2023-11-21). "Savvy Games has $38 billion to build a Saudi gaming sector. Here's how they plan to do it" (in en-GB). https://wired.me/business/savvy-games-saudi-pif-interview/. 



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