Savvy Games Group Expands Global Portfolio With Six Billion Dollar Acquisition Of Mobile Legends Developer Moonton

Savvy Games Group buys Mobile Legends creator Moonton for $6B, marking a major expansion for Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund into esports.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 6:29 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GamesIndustry.biz

Consolidating Power In The Mobile Esports Landscape

Savvy Games Group has successfully moved to acquire Moonton Technology, the renowned developer behind the global hit Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, in a deal valued at approximately $6 billion. This acquisition marks a significant shift for Moonton’s previous owner, ByteDance, which has been seeking to divest from its gaming interests since 2024. According to Bloomberg, the deal has transitioned from advanced negotiations into a finalized agreement that will see the transaction close in the near future. This move establishes Savvy as a primary stakeholder in one of the world's most popular mobile multiplayer online battle arena titles.

Stability And Continuity For Moonton’s Development Teams

Despite the massive shift in ownership, Savvy Games has committed to a policy of operational continuity for the Shanghai based developer. The current leadership team at Moonton is slated to remain in their positions to steer the studio’s ongoing projects and community engagement. Furthermore, Savvy has indicated that it will implement comprehensive incentive programs for existing employees to ensure talent retention during the transition period. According to industry analysts, this stability is crucial for maintaining the consistent update cycle required for a live service title of Moonton’s scale.

A Strategic Leap For Savvy’s Esports Aspirations

Brian Ward, the CEO of Savvy Games Group, framed the acquisition as a mechanical necessity for the firm’s long term growth strategy. He noted that Moonton provides an established foundation for Savvy’s mobile games division while significantly enhancing its reach within the global esports ecosystem. Mobile Legends is currently a cornerstone of competitive gaming in Southeast Asia, and Ward believes that Savvy’s infrastructure can help scale this influence even further. By acquiring a proven esports property, Savvy is bypassing the traditional growth hurdles associated with building a competitive community from the ground up.