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 sources speaking to Bloomberg, the rationale behind the contemplated merger is to achieve tighter alignment and more efficient coordination among the fund’s various gaming assets. Savvy Games Group already boasts an impressive portfolio that spans a range of developers, publishers, and esports platforms.
Its current holdings include mobile game powerhouse Scopely, the esports tournament organizer ESL Gaming, the competitive gaming platform FaceIt, and a sizable $1 billion equity position in Embracer Group, a Swedish conglomerate that owns a multitude of game studios worldwide. In addition, Savvy maintains minority stakes in several iconic industry players such as Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, Take‑Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, and Koei Tecmo. This diverse collection of investments positions Savvy as a central hub for both traditional and emerging segments of the video‑game ecosystem.
The timing of the proposed merger is linked to another major transaction that Savvy is currently pursuing. In March, the group announced a $6 billion acquisition of Moonton, the Chinese developer best known for the hit mobile title *Mobile Legends: Bang Bang*. Sources indicate that the integration of EA into Savvy will likely be postponed until the Moonton deal is fully closed, suggesting that the PIF wants to ensure a smooth consolidation of all its gaming interests before adding EA to the mix.
Both the PIF and EA have declined to comment on the Bloomberg report, and a Savvy spokesperson has not responded to requests for clarification. What is clear, however, is that the PIF was the lead investor in the leveraged buyout of EA that closed last month, turning the American studio into a majority‑owned asset of the Saudi fund. The $55 billion transaction, finalized in early August, was the culmination of a consortium of investors that also included private‑equity firm Silver Lake and the Middle‑East‑focused investment house Affinity Partners.
The deal, first announced in September of the previous year, marked one of the largest acquisitions in the video‑game sector to date. In an internal letter to EA employees, the company emphasized that its core mission, values, and dedication to players around the globe would remain unchanged despite the change in ownership.
"EA will retain creative control, and our record of artistic freedom and player‑first values will stay intact," the communication read. The letter further noted that the consortium backing EA believes in the studio’s vision, leadership, and its commitment to delivering diverse gaming experiences to a worldwide audience. The investors, according to the statement, are "investing in the creativity that defines EA." 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 group’s inception in 2021.
During his tenure, Ward oversaw a massive $37.8 billion infusion of capital aimed at expanding Saudi Arabia’s footprint in the global gaming market. Turqi Alnowaiser, the deputy governor of the PIF and head of its International Investments Division, was named interim CEO.
In a note to staff, Ward explained that the transition was intended to usher in a new era of transformational growth for Savvy, stating, "As Savvy embarks on its next period of transformational growth, this is the right time for new leadership for that evolution." The potential merger of EA into Savvy Games would create a vertically integrated powerhouse that combines world‑class development talent with a broad suite of publishing, distribution, and esports capabilities. Analysts speculate that such a structure could enable more efficient allocation of resources, faster time‑to‑market for new titles, and a unified strategy for entering emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and Asia.
It could also provide EA with direct access to Savvy’s existing partnerships and platforms, potentially unlocking new revenue streams through live‑ops, mobile gaming, and competitive esports events. Critics, however, caution that the integration of a legacy studio like EA with a relatively young conglomerate may present cultural and operational challenges. Aligning EA’s long‑standing development pipelines with Savvy’s fast‑moving, mobile‑first approach could require careful management to avoid disruption to ongoing projects.
Moreover, regulatory scrutiny may arise given the scale of the combined entity and the strategic importance of the gaming sector in both the United States and Saudi Arabia. If the merger proceeds, it would signal a further deepening of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major player in the global entertainment and technology landscape.
The kingdom has already invested heavily in sports, media, and now gaming, aiming to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. By consolidating its gaming assets under a single umbrella, the PIF hopes to create synergies that accelerate growth, foster innovation, and ultimately position Saudi Arabia as a hub for creative talent and cutting‑edge gaming experiences. For now, stakeholders await further details on the timeline, regulatory approvals, and the exact mechanics of how EA will be integrated into Savvy’s operational framework.
The next few months will be critical in determining whether this ambitious consolidation will materialize and how it will reshape the competitive dynamics of the global video‑game industry.