If you opened your favorite mobile game today, there’s a real chance the money trail runs through Saudi Arabia. Surprised? You won’t be after this.
In the past week, Savvy Games Group – backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund – signaled it’s pursuing multibillion-dollar deals in China and wider Asia. That’s not just another corporate headline; it’s a strategic bid to plant a Saudi flag in the world’s largest gaming arena.
- What happened? Savvy is moving to strike major partnerships and acquisitions in Asia, especially China.
- Why it matters: Asia is nearly half of global gaming revenue, and China alone has hundreds of millions of players. Getting a foothold there can reshape who wins the next decade of gaming.
How Saudi Got Here
This push isn’t coming out of nowhere. In 2023, Savvy bought Scopely (maker of Monopoly GO!) for $4.9 billion, instantly adding a top-tier mobile portfolio. In 2025, Scopely agreed to buy Niantic’s games business – including Pokémon GO for $3.5 billion; the deal closed in May 2025. These two moves alone give Saudi meaningful reach across Western and global mobile audiences.
Savvy’s war chest is large by design: back in 2022, Saudi announced a ~$38 billion plan (142 billion riyals) to build a homegrown gaming powerhouse part of Vision 2030 diversification.
So… How Big Is Savvy Really?
Depending on the metric you use, Savvy’s footprint is already massive. The Financial Times reported this week that Savvy is the world’s second-largest mobile games publisher (behind Tencent) a claim consistent with recent executive commentary as the Scopely and Niantic assets consolidate under one umbrella. At a minimum, Savvy now controls multiple top-grossing mobile franchises (Monopoly GO!, Pokémon GO, Marvel Strike Force).
To grasp the scale: Monopoly GO! alone crossed $5 billion in lifetime revenue in about two years – a staggering pace for any mobile title.
Why Asia, And Why Now?
Because Asia is the arena. It’s where the most players – and much of the revenue live, with China as the single biggest national market. Western publishers often struggle there due to regulatory licensing and geopolitical headwinds. Savvy thinks Saudi’s neutral positioning and deep capital can open doors others can’t. That’s the core of this week’s story.
This isn’t Saudi’s first step into Asia either. In 2023, a PIF-owned unit bought a $265 million stake in Chinese esports company VSPO, an early sign that the kingdom wants to be woven into Asia’s gaming fabric.
The Vision 2030 Logic
- Diversify beyond oil: Build new industries that create jobs and global influence.
- Pick fast-growing sectors: Gaming, esports, entertainment, sports.
- Invest at scale: Use the sovereign fund to accelerate from “participant” to “powerhouse.”
Independent analyses line up with that plan. PwC estimates Saudi gaming/esports could add $13.3 billion to GDP and create ~39,000 jobs by 2030; recent regional reporting echoes those targets as official strategy milestones.
What Changes If Savvy Lands Big China/Asia Deals?
- Global competition reshuffles
Exclusive partnerships and stronger publishing pipes in Asia could force Western rivals to rethink go-to-market models, especially on mobile where the growth is. - Saudi becomes a development hub
With Scopely and new studios setting up in Riyadh, expect more roles for engineers, artists, live-ops specialists and more training pipelines inside the kingdom. (A recent example: codev firms opening Riyadh bases to serve Savvy’s ecosystem.) - Soft power via screens
Saudi already uses sports (F1, LIV Golf, the Saudi Pro League) to project brand and influence. Games played daily by hundreds of millions are the next soft-power wave.
Real Talk: What Could Go Wrong?
- Regulation is hard: China’s content approvals and play-time rules don’t bend easily. Even giants have stumbled renewing licenses. Savvy’s pitch is that Riyadh isn’t caught in US-China crossfire, but approvals still take time.
- Hits are rare: $5B smashes like Monopoly GO! are exceptions, not the rule. Sustaining multiple franchises over years is the real test.
- Talent, not just capital: You can buy studios, but creative pipelines and player communities take years to earn. Reuters has cautioned before that splashy M&A only “works on some levels” unless execution stays sharp.
Why This Past Week Matters
This isn’t a vague “Saudi likes games” story. The new angle is the pivot toward China/Asia right now, leveraging a moment when many Western firms face political and regulatory friction. If Savvy turns this into signed publishing deals or acquisitions, it could be the inflection point where Riyadh becomes a central node in the global games supply chain – not just an investor.
Bottom Line
Saudi Arabia is trying to recode its economy – and gaming is one of the headline lines of that new script. With $38 billion earmarked, Scopely under the hood, Niantic’s games in the garage, and a fresh push into Asia, Savvy is aiming at the part of gaming that grows fastest and reaches the most people: mobile.
Whether you’re a player, founder, or policymaker, this is a Middle East story you can’t skip.
