ByteDance in Advanced Talks to Sell Moonton to Saudi’s Savvy Games in $6–7 Billion Deal

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, Feb 13 (GeokHub) — ByteDance is in advanced discussions to sell its gaming subsidiary Shanghai Moonton Technology to Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, in a transaction valued between $6 billion and $7 billion, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The deal could be finalized as early as this quarter, with both parties reportedly reaching preliminary agreement on broad terms. The companies have not publicly commented on the discussions.

Strategic Exit from Gaming

A sale of Moonton would signal a major retreat from the gaming sector for ByteDance, best known as the parent company of TikTok.

ByteDance acquired Moonton in 2021 through its gaming arm Nuverse, valuing the studio at approximately $4 billion at the time. The acquisition formed part of an effort to build a global gaming presence capable of challenging larger industry rivals.

However, the company announced a restructuring of its gaming operations in 2023 following a strategic review, shifting focus back toward its core social media and AI-driven businesses.

Moonton’s Global Gaming Footprint

Founded in 2014, Moonton is best known for its flagship title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game with over 1.5 billion downloads and more than 110 million monthly active users.

The game consistently ranks among the top 10 most-played titles in over 80 countries. Moonton employs more than 2,000 people and operates across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and China, positioning itself as a global e-sports and game development company.

Saudi Arabia’s Expanding Gaming Ambitions

Savvy Games Group, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has been aggressively expanding its presence in the global gaming industry through acquisitions and strategic investments.

In 2023, Savvy acquired Scopely, a U.S.-based mobile game developer, for $4.9 billion. Scopely later purchased Niantic’s gaming division in a multi-billion-dollar transaction, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s footprint in the mobile gaming ecosystem.

The potential Moonton acquisition would deepen Savvy’s push for intellectual property dominance and expanded global distribution, as consolidation accelerates across the video game industry.

Industry Consolidation Continues

The transaction comes amid heightened competition among gaming giants seeking scale, global reach, and control over valuable intellectual property. If completed, the deal would represent one of the largest cross-border gaming acquisitions in recent years.

ByteDance’s divestment discussions also coincide with a surge in its overall corporate valuation over the past year, fueled by growth in its social media and AI-related businesses.