Mobile Legends Said to Be Entering a New Chapter
The global gaming industry is witnessing a potentially massive move: ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant known for the TikTok platform, is reportedly close to finalizing the sale of Moonton Technology, the studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group. The deal is estimated at USD 6–7 billion, or approximately Rp 100 trillion, marking one of the largest transactions in mobile gaming history.
Sources from international media report that ByteDance and Savvy Games Group have agreed on the broad framework of the deal, with talks now entering the final stage. If all goes smoothly, the acquisition could be completed in the first quarter of 2026, transferring ownership of one of the world’s most popular mobile games.
ByteDance, Moonton, and Savvy Games have not officially confirmed the details of the deal. Nevertheless, reports indicating the advanced stage of negotiations strongly suggest that the change in ownership is all but certain.
Moonton, founded in 2014 and known for the title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, was previously acquired by ByteDance in 2021 for approximately USD 4 billion, or around Rp 67 trillion. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move by ByteDance to strengthen its position in the global gaming industry. However, ByteDance’s business restructuring in 2023 led the company to refocus on core services such as social media, artificial intelligence, and other digital platforms. Moonton was consequently earmarked as a priority asset for divestiture to streamline the portfolio and improve operational efficiency.
Savvy Games Group is a company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has been actively making large-scale investments in the global entertainment and technology sectors. The group has previously acquired several major gaming companies, signaling its ambition to become a dominant force in the global gaming and e-sports industry.
For Saudi Arabia, this acquisition is more than just a business transaction. It is part of the country’s long-term strategy to expand its influence in the global digital industry, including interactive entertainment and e-sports.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the largest mobile MOBA games in the world, with over 1.5 billion global downloads and 110 million monthly active users. The game boasts a massive community, particularly in Southeast Asia, along with a robust competitive ecosystem in the e-sports arena.