ByteDance Sells Moonton to Saudi Arabian Gaming Company

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has agreed to sell Moonton Technology, the studio behind the popular MOBA game Mobile Legends, to Savvy Games Group, a gaming company based in Riyadh and owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This move further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position in the global gaming industry, as reported by Selular. The transaction value, according to sources familiar with the agreement, exceeds $6 billion, or approximately Rp 101 trillion. These details were previously reported by Reuters in February 2026, with estimates ranging from $6 billion to $7 billion. Savvy Games Group, the company acquiring Moonton, is actively expanding through acquisitions, investments, and various commercial ventures in the global gaming and esports sector. Moonton’s CEO, Zhang Yunfan, stated in an internal memo cited by Bloomberg News that the transaction will be completed soon. Zhang and his management team will remain in their current positions, while other employees will receive various incentive programmes. Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games, said in a press release that the acquisition supports Savvy’s goals of advancing prosperity and connections through gaming, as well as driving long-term growth and innovation in the gaming and esports industries. Ward also added that the deal will strengthen Savvy Games’ leadership in the mobile gaming industry, deepen its talent pool, expand its global reach, and enhance its presence in esports. For additional information, ByteDance acquired Moonton in 2021 for $4 billion. Moonton is a mobile game developer known for Mobile Legends, Watcher of Realms, and Magic Rush: Heroes. Founded in 2014, Moonton employs more than 2,000 people across various countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin America, and China. Mobile Legends, Moonton’s flagship game, has been downloaded 1.5 billion times worldwide and has over 110 million monthly active users.