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Savvy Games Group has agreed to buy Moonton from ByteDance in a deal that values the mobile game studio at more than $6 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The transaction will strengthen Savvy’s position in mobile gaming and esports while giving ByteDance more room to focus on artificial intelligence.
Moonton develops Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, one of the most popular mobile multiplayer games in Southeast Asia. The game has recorded more than 1.5 billion installs, which makes it a major asset in the fast-growing mobile gaming market. Savvy said the acquisition will expand its global footprint and deepen its talent base, while Moonton said its current management structure will stay in place after the deal closes.
Savvy Games Group has made mobile gaming a core part of its strategy, and the Moonton acquisition fits this plan. Savvy Chief Executive Officer Brian Ward said the deal will strengthen the company’s leadership in mobile games, expand its global reach, and improve its presence across esports. Those goals align with Saudi Arabia’s wider push to build a stronger position in the global gaming industry.
The company already owns Scopely, the publisher behind Monopoly GO. Through Scopely, it also agreed to buy Niantic’s gaming business last year in a $3.5 billion deal. With Moonton, Savvy adds another proven mobile gaming business and secures a title with strong brand recognition in Asia. This combination gives the Saudi-owned group more scale in a market where mobile games generate the largest share of consumer spending.
Savvy operates under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which remains central to the kingdom’s long-term gaming plans. The fund has backed a wider push that includes game development, esports, and gaming infrastructure. The company has also linked those plans to projects near Riyadh, including a gaming district within Qiddiya City.
Moonton gives Savvy immediate access to a large and active mobile gaming audience. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has built a strong base in Southeast Asia, where mobile esports continues to attract large communities, tournament audiences, and sponsorship interest. This regional strength makes Moonton valuable beyond game sales because it also supports long-term esports growth.
Moonton Chief Executive Officer Zhang Yunfan told staff that the company’s management structure will remain unchanged after the deal. He also said he will continue to lead the Shanghai-based studio. Savvy plans to keep Moonton’s leadership team in place and offer employees incentive programs, which suggests the buyer wants continuity as it integrates the business.
This approach could help Savvy preserve Moonton’s product momentum and local market knowledge. It also lowers the risk that a management shake-up could disrupt game updates, esports operations, or player engagement. For Savvy, Moonton offers both a successful studio and a large gaming community that already spans multiple markets.
ByteDance bought Moonton in 2021 through Nuverse in a deal that valued the studio at about $4 billion. Since then, the company has reduced its gaming ambitions and moved resources toward other priorities. The sale of Moonton marks another step in that shift and reflects a broader restructuring effort inside the Chinese technology group.
In addition, ByteDance has cut jobs and wound down parts of its gaming business in recent years after it struggled to challenge larger competitors in the sector. At the same time, the company has increased its focus on generative AI, proprietary chips, large language models, and chatbot development. The Moonton sale supports this transition by freeing up capital and management attention.
The transaction also highlights ongoing consolidation in the video game industry. Large groups continue to compete for established intellectual property, deeper distribution, and stronger positions in high-growth regions.
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