Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is reportedly weighing a strategic move to fold Electronic Arts (EA) into its gaming subsidiary, Savvy Games Group. According to insiders speaking to Bloomberg, the rationale behind the proposed merger is to create a more unified and efficient structure for the fund’s expanding portfolio of interactive entertainment assets. Savvy Games Group, which was created in 2021, already boasts a diverse collection of investments in the video‑game ecosystem. Its current holdings include a controlling interest in Scopely, a leading mobile game publisher, as well as stakes in ESL Gaming and FaceIt, two of the world’s biggest esports platforms.
In addition, Savvy holds a roughly $1 billion share of Embracer Group, the Swedish conglomerate that owns a wide array of development studios and publishing labels. Beyond these core assets, Savvy’s reach extends into several of the industry’s most recognizable names.
The subsidiary has minority stakes in Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, Take‑Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, and Koei Tecmo, giving it a foothold in both console and PC markets across Asia, Europe and North America. This breadth of exposure positions Savvy as a potential hub for coordinating the activities of its varied investments, a goal that appears to be driving the PIF’s interest in merging EA into the group.
The timing of the proposal coincides with Savvy’s ongoing acquisition of Moonton, the Chinese developer behind the popular mobile title "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang." The $6 billion transaction, announced in March, is still in the closing phase, and sources suggest that the integration of EA will likely wait until Moonton’s deal is finalized. The PIF’s leadership appears to be taking a measured approach, ensuring that each major acquisition is settled before reshaping the overall corporate architecture. Both the PIF and EA declined to comment on the speculation when approached by Bloomberg, and a Savvy spokesperson did not respond to requests for clarification. Nevertheless, the background of the deal is well‑documented.
In late August, the PIF led a $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts, a transaction that concluded the previous month and resulted in the sovereign fund becoming the majority shareholder of the storied game developer. The EA acquisition was first announced in September of the prior year, when a consortium of investors—including the PIF, private‑equity firm Silver Lake and the Saudi‑based Affinity Partners—revealed their intention to take the company private.
In a letter addressed to employees, EA’s leadership emphasized that the change in ownership would not alter the studio’s core mission, values, or dedication to its global player base. The communiqué reassured staff that creative autonomy would remain intact, stating, “EA will maintain creative control, and our track record of creative freedom and player‑first values will remain intact.” The consortium’s statement further highlighted confidence in EA’s vision and leadership, noting that the investors were committed to supporting the company’s ambition to produce games, narratives and experiences that resonate with a wide spectrum of audiences worldwide. By backing EA’s creative engine, the PIF and its partners signaled a long‑term commitment to the gaming sector as a driver of cultural and economic growth. Leadership changes at Savvy Games have also been a focal point of recent news.
Last week, Brian Ward stepped down after serving as CEO since the company’s inception. Turqi Alnowaiser, the deputy governor of the PIF and head of its International Investments Division, was appointed as interim chief executive.
In a farewell note to employees, Ward reflected on the period of “transformational growth” that Savvy has experienced, describing the leadership transition as an appropriate step for the next phase of expansion. Under Ward’s stewardship, Savvy Games oversaw a massive infusion of capital—approximately $37.8 billion—aimed at bolstering Saudi Arabia’s footprint in the global gaming arena. This investment has funded a series of high‑profile deals, from acquiring stakes in established publishers to backing emerging developers in fast‑growing markets. The overarching strategy appears to be the creation of a vertically integrated ecosystem that can develop, publish, and distribute games across multiple platforms while also leveraging esports and live‑streaming channels to engage audiences.
If the merger between EA and Savvy proceeds, it would likely streamline decision‑making processes, align marketing and distribution strategies, and potentially unlock synergies in game development pipelines. By bringing EA’s extensive catalog of franchises—such as "FIFA," "Madden NFL," "The Sims" and "Battlefield"—under the Savvy umbrella, the PIF could more effectively coordinate cross‑promotion with its other holdings, including mobile titles from Scopely and competitive gaming events hosted by ESL and FaceIt. Analysts caution, however, that integrating a large, publicly recognized developer like EA into a relatively new conglomerate will present challenges. Cultural differences, regulatory considerations across jurisdictions, and the need to preserve EA’s creative independence are all factors that will require careful management.
Nonetheless, the PIF’s substantial financial resources and its demonstrated willingness to invest heavily in the sector suggest that it is prepared to address these complexities. In summary, the PIF’s contemplated merger of Electronic Arts with Savvy Games Group reflects a broader ambition to consolidate its gaming assets into a cohesive, globally competitive entity.
While the deal is still subject to regulatory approval and the completion of Savvy’s Moonton acquisition, the strategic intent is clear: to create a unified platform that can leverage the strengths of each investment, foster innovation, and position Saudi Arabia as a significant player in the worldwide video‑game industry.