Savvy Games Group

What Savvy Games Group does

Savvy Games Group is a Riyadh-headquartered gaming and esports holding company wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, established in 2021 to execute the Kingdom's National Gaming and Esports Strategy under Vision 2030. The group operates a portfolio of wholly-owned operating subsidiaries including Scopely (mobile publishing, anchored by Monopoly GO! with 150M+ downloads, Stumble Guys, WWE Champions, Star Trek Fleet Command, and the 2025-acquired Niantic gaming titles such as Pokémon GO), ESL FACEIT Group (the world's largest esports company operating ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack, and the Esports World Cup with a $60M prize pool), Steer Studios (a Riyadh-based developer with debut title Grunt Rush), and Moonton Games (acquired in March 2026 for $6 billion, developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with 1.5 billion installs). Additional minority stakes are held in Hero Esports ($265M), Embracer Group ($1B), and approximately 10% positions each in Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo, Square Enix, NCSoft, and Nexon.

The company monetizes through freemium mobile games with in-app purchases, esports broadcasting rights and sponsorships, tournament ticketing, and minority investment returns. Distribution occurs through Apple App Store, Google Play, FACEIT's 25M+ user competitive platform, and education and ecosystem partnerships with the Ministry of Education, Alfaisal University, American University of Bahrain, Xsolla, HP, Roblox, Niantic, Merak Capital, and SBI Holdings. The group operates across 22 countries with 29 offices and approximately 3,950 employees, and is pursuing AI deployment through a partnership with Saudi AI firm Humain to enhance game development, content localization, player analytics, and operational efficiency across the portfolio.

Name

Savvy Games Group

Legal name

Savvy Games Group

Website

https://savvygames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Savvy Games Group is a Saudi sovereign-wealth-backed (PIF) gaming and esports holding company that owns mobile publishers (Scopely, Moonton), the world's largest esports operator (ESL FACEIT Group), and a Saudi game studio, serving hundreds of millions of global mobile gamers and esports fans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Gaming & Esports

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Esports Platforms & Competitive Gaming Networks (BPAMAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Esports & Creator Sponsorship/Brand Partnerships (Influencer Marketing for Gaming) (MPAFAEAE)

Keywords

• Mobile game publishing
• Esports tournaments
• Game development studios
• Gaming investments
• Competitive gaming platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mobile Game Monetization: Through Scopely, Savvy generates revenue from mobile games including Monopoly Go!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and WWE Champions. Games operate on free-to-play model with in-app purchases.
2. Esports Events and Broadcasting: ESL FACEIT Group operates tournaments including IEM, ESL One, ESL Pro League, and DreamHack festivals, generating revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and event tickets.
3. Gaming Investments and Acquisitions: Savvy generates returns through strategic investments in gaming companies and real estate ventures, including stakes in Nintendo, Bandai Namco, and other publishers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Savvy Games Group is a Saudi Arabia-based games and esports holding company that owns and operates mobile game publishers (Scopely), esports tournament platforms (ESL FACEIT Group), and in-house game development studios (Steer Studios, Moonton Games). The company also makes strategic minority investments in global gaming companies and runs the Esports World Cup event franchise.

Product overview

Savvy Games Group is a leading global games and esports company that operates through multiple business units and product lines. The company encompasses Scopely (a mobile game publisher with titles including Monopoly GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, WWE Champions, and Bingo Bash), Steer Studios (a Riyadh-based game development studio that created Grunt Rush), and ESL FACEIT Group (the world's leading esports company operating ESL, FACEIT, and DreamHack platforms). Savvy also organizes the Esports World Cup and holds investments in Hero Esports and Embracer Group. The company offers talent development through Savvy Academy and educational initiatives like the Play to Learn competition. Through these interconnected business units and products, Savvy provides a comprehensive ecosystem spanning mobile gaming, esports operations, game development, and talent development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Savvy Academy: Savvy's flagship talent development initiative focused on building skills and careers in the games and esports industry
• Scopely
• ESL FACEIT Group (EFG)
• Steer Studios
• Esports World Cup
• ESL
• FACEIT

Products and services

• Monopoly GO!
• Stumble Guys
• Star Trek Fleet Command
• WWE Champions
• Bingo Bash A long-running free-to-play bingo mobile game with 50 million+ players worldwide, published by Scopely.
• Grunt Rush A free-to-play tactical warfare mobile game where players lead armies in offline battles by balancing troops and armored vehicles, developed and published by Steer Studios (Savvy subsidiary).
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Esports World Cup An elite multi-genre annual esports competition held in Saudi Arabia, featuring 200+ clubs, 1,500+ players, and 2M+ on-site visitors with a record $60M prize pool.
• ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) Esports Platform The world's leading esports platform combining ESL tournaments (IEM, ESL One, ESL Pro League, DreamHack) and the FACEIT competitive gaming platform (25M+ users), wholly owned by Savvy Games Group.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150M+ downloads for Monopoly Go! - #1 mobile game launch of all time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RobloxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Savvy Games Group and Roblox partnered to broaden access to game development opportunities and build creative talent in Saudi Arabia. Savvy will support Roblox's operational presence in the region with dedicated Developer Relations expertise. Partnership includes supporting creators via Roblox Creator Hub, upskilling workshops, and tailored competitions.
• American University of Bahrain (AUBH)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Savvy Games Group and American University of Bahrain signed MoU to support hands-on training and industry exposure for students in game design and interactive media. Partnership under Savvy Academy focuses on internship opportunities, studio visits, and structured industry engagement with Savvy's teams in Riyadh.
• NMBRSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Savvy Games Group partnered with Stockholm-based visual effects and cinematic studio NMBRS to expand high-end VFX and cinematic production capabilities in Saudi Arabia. NMBRS will establish local operational presence in Riyadh with Savvy's support. Collaboration includes talent development, knowledge transfer, and exploring original IP concepts reflecting Saudi culture.
• Ministry of Education (Saudi Arabia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Savvy Games Group signed three MoUs with Saudi Ministry of Education to promote and embed game development and esports across education frameworks. Partnership includes incorporating game development into curricula, obtaining formal accreditation for Savvy Academy, embedding games into e-learning platform Madrasati, and supporting talent development through scholarship programs.
• National Institute for Educational Professional DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Partnership focused on upskilling teachers, designing accredited training pathways in games-related fields, and organizing workshops, forums, and events centered on innovative games-based learning and teaching methods.
• Tatweer Educational ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Collaboration aimed at incorporating games-based and simulation technologies into the development of interactive educational content, digital learning solutions, and specialized educational content.
• Alfaisal UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Savvy Games Group collaborated with Alfaisal University to launch a new Game Design program jointly delivered by the university and Savvy Academy. Program combines curriculum development with industry insight, enhances training facilities including hardware and laboratory upgrades. First cohort expected in 2026 academic year.
• HumaincoreTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025Savvy Games Group partnered with Humain to deploy AI across operations, enhancing efficiency and supporting Saudi Arabia's innovation ecosystem. Partnership includes collaboration on research, development, and new AI applications with Humain providing access to data centers and cloud infrastructure.
• HPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025Savvy Games Group and HP partnered to expand the HP Gaming Garage in Saudi Arabia, providing training, competitions, and hands-on experience for aspiring professionals. Collaboration aims to engage students, raise awareness of gaming careers, and create incubator programs for game development through esports management education.
• SBI HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Savvy Games Group and SBI Holdings signed MoU for cooperation in the games sector. SBI Group will introduce Japanese games companies to Savvy for potential collaboration supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals. Savvy will provide strategic guidance and local market expertise for Japanese companies entering Saudi Arabia and MENA region.
• XsollacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Xsolla and Savvy Games Group partnered to launch the Xsolla Game Development Academy in Saudi Arabia, producing industry-leading events, creating 3,600 new jobs by 2030, and establishing Riyadh as Xsolla's regional headquarters. The partnership focuses on fostering game development talent and supporting local and international studios through incubator and accelerator programs.
• NianticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2024Savvy Games Group and Niantic signed MoU to support Niantic's expansion into MENA-3 region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt). Partnership focuses on inspiring people to play together through local community-building efforts and live events, promoting exploration and discovery. Savvy will also aid Niantic in establishing regional operations.
• Al Hilal Saudi Football ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2023Savvy became a key sponsor of Al Hilal Saudi Football Club, the most decorated football team in Asia. Collaboration reflects shared commitment to excellence, bridging fans' passions for football and games across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
• ESL FACEIT GroupcoreOthersESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Savvy Games Group and the world's leading esports company. EFG operates ESL, FACEIT, and DreamHack brands, delivering unique experiences that strengthen games culture and build gamer communities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Embracer Group: Swedish video game and media holding company that operates a decentralized portfolio of game studios and IP across mobile, console, and tabletop. Savvy invested $1B in Embracer in 2022 and shares the same roll-up holding-company thesis — making it the most structurally comparable peer.
• Playtika: Israel-based mobile gaming holding focused on casual and social casino games (Bingo Blitz, Slotomania). Comparable as a pure-play mobile game publisher with multiple top-grossing live-ops titles and acquisition-driven growth.
• Sea Limited (Garena): Southeast Asian digital entertainment company operating the Garena gaming platform (Free Fire, esports leagues). Comparable as a regional gaming platform with integrated publishing, esports operations, and live-ops mobile titles.
• Riot Games (Tencent subsidiary): Developer of League of Legends and Valorant with the world's largest esports league (LoL Esports). Comparable to ESL FACEIT Group as a global esports operator with multi-title tournament franchises and integrated competitive platforms.
• Modern Times Group (MTG): Swedish esports and digital entertainment holding that was the previous owner of ESL Gaming (sold to Savvy for $1.05B in 2022). Operates gaming and esports platforms including InnoGames, making it the closest pure-play esports holding peer.

Broad incumbents

• Electronic Arts: Major Western game publisher with mobile (EA Sports FC Mobile), live services, and esports titles. CEO Brian Ward's prior tenure at EA creates direct cultural and strategic overlap with Savvy's portfolio approach.
• Tencent Holdings: Chinese technology conglomerate with the world's largest gaming portfolio (Riot Games, Supercell, Epic Games stake, Activision stake post-divestiture). Comparable as a global gaming platform with vertically integrated publishing, esports, and infrastructure.
• Activision Blizzard (Microsoft Gaming): Global gaming holding with King (mobile), Blizzard, and Activision — recently acquired by Microsoft for $69B. Comparable as a major IP holding with mobile (Candy Crush via King), esports (Overwatch League), and live-ops revenue engines.
• Take-Two Interactive: US-based game publisher holding Rockstar, 2K, and Zynga (mobile). Zynga gives it a Scopely-comparable mobile publishing franchise, and PIF transferred its Take-Two stake to Savvy, signaling direct crossholding alignment.
• NetEase: Major Chinese gaming publisher with deep mobile and PC game portfolio plus esports operations. Comparable for mobile publishing scale and Asian market presence, especially given Savvy's Moonton (Mobile Legends) acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/savvy-games-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Savvy Games Group