Brian Ward announced his resignation from the role of chief executive officer at Savvy Games Group, a move confirmed by an internal memorandum that Bloomberg obtained. In his farewell note, Ward explained that the company is poised to enter a new phase of "transformational growth" and that fresh leadership is essential to guide that evolution.
He expressed confidence that a change at the top would help the organization continue its ambitious trajectory. The interim helm will be taken by Turqi Alnowaiser, who currently serves as the deputy governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and leads its International Investments Division.
Alnowaiser will act as the acting CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement. His appointment underscores the close relationship between Savvy Games Group and its sole owner, the PIF, which has been instrumental in financing and shaping the company’s strategic direction.
Ward has been at the forefront of Savvy Games Group since the firm was launched in 2021. Over the past three years, he has overseen a massive capital infusion—approximately $37.8 billion—intended to catapult Saudi Arabia into a leading position within the global video‑game ecosystem. The investment plan was part of a broader national effort to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil and to foster a vibrant digital entertainment sector that can also serve social and cultural objectives. Savvy Games Group itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of the PIF.
In earlier statements, Ward described the venture as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s “economic diversification and social transformation” agenda, highlighting how the gaming industry can generate high‑skill jobs, stimulate creative talent, and attract international partnerships. Under Ward’s stewardship, Savvy pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy to build a portfolio of development studios and publishing assets. Notable deals included the purchase of Moonton, the creator of the hit mobile title "Mobile Legends," from Chinese tech giant Bytedance for roughly $6 million earlier in the year.
In 2023, Savvy also completed a landmark acquisition of Scopely, a U.S. mobile game publisher, for an estimated $4.9 billion.
These transactions were designed to give Savvy a foothold in both the Asian and Western markets, providing a diversified pipeline of games and intellectual property. Before his tenure at Savvy, Ward accumulated extensive experience across the gaming sector, holding senior positions at Electronic Arts, Microsoft’s Xbox division, and Activision. His background gave him a deep understanding of both the creative and commercial aspects of game development, which he leveraged to negotiate and integrate the high‑profile acquisitions mentioned above.
Ward’s decision to step down comes only a month after the Public Investment Fund led a consortium that acquired Electronic Arts for a staggering $55 billion. The EA deal, one of the largest in the history of the gaming industry, has sparked internal debates within Savvy about how two massive Saudi‑backed gaming entities should be coordinated and managed. Sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity, told Bloomberg that the EA acquisition raised concerns about potential overlaps, strategic alignment, and governance structures between the two companies.
Industry analysts suggest that Ward’s departure may reflect the challenges of navigating a rapidly expanding portfolio while maintaining clear operational boundaries. The integration of EA’s massive development studios and publishing network with Savvy’s nascent assets could create synergies, but it also demands careful oversight to avoid conflicts of interest and to ensure that each entity can pursue its own strategic goals. Looking ahead, Turqi Alnowaiser’s interim leadership is expected to focus on stabilizing the organization during this transitional period.
Alnowaiser’s experience in international investments will likely be applied to assess the performance of recent acquisitions, refine the group’s growth strategy, and possibly explore new partnership opportunities in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The broader context of Saudi Arabia’s push into the gaming sector remains unchanged. The kingdom continues to invest heavily in digital infrastructure, talent development programs, and regulatory frameworks that encourage foreign investment.
By positioning Savvy Games Group as a central hub for global gaming activity, Saudi Arabia aims to become a key player in a market projected to exceed $300 billion in revenue by the end of the decade. In summary, Brian Ward’s resignation marks the end of an era for Savvy Games Group, a company that, under his guidance, secured billions of dollars in funding, executed high‑profile acquisitions, and laid the groundwork for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious entry into the worldwide gaming arena.
With Turqi Alnowaiser stepping in as interim CEO, the organization will navigate the immediate challenges posed by the recent EA acquisition while continuing to pursue its long‑term vision of establishing a diversified, globally competitive gaming ecosystem.