ByteDance in advanced talks to sell Moonton to PIF-owned Savvy Games for $6B+
What’s the deal? ByteDance is in advanced talks to sell Moonton, the studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Savvy GamesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Saudi Arabia-based gaming group, for more than $6 billion. Sources told Reuters the sides have a broad agreement and could finalise the deal as soon as this quarter.
ByteDance acquired Shanghai Moonton Technology in 2021 at a valuation of about $4 billion. The sale would be one of the largest gaming acquisitions in recent years.
Why now? Talks to sell Moonton reportedly restarted in late 2025 after earlier discussions stalled. A deal would give ByteDance a major exit as it faces ongoing scrutiny of its global business beyond TikTokDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
For Saudi Arabia, gaming has become a strategic priority under the Public Investment FundDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, which owns Savvy Games. The kingdom has been spending billions to build a global gaming hub through acquisitions, esports, and studio expansion.
Mobile Legends remains one of the biggest mobile esports titles in Southeast Asia, giving Savvy a strong foothold in a fast-growing market.
What could go wrong? The deal could face regulatory hurdles, given geopolitical tensions and tighter oversight of cross-border tech transactions. Approval timelines may stretch beyond this quarter.
Mobile gaming is also highly competitive, with player demand shifting quickly. Paying more than $6 billion raises pressure to sustain Moonton’s growth over the long term.
The signal: The talks underline how Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth is reshaping global gaming dealmaking. PIF-backed buyers are emerging as some of the sector’s most aggressive consolidators.
For ByteDance, selling Moonton would signal a willingness to streamline assets outside its core social media empire. Gaming studios are becoming valuable exit opportunities as consolidation accelerates.
Sources:
Reuters
Bloomberg
The Financial Times
Game Developer
Games Industry
MARKETECH APAC
Image source:
PocketGamer.biz
J.V.
