Articles featuring Savvy Games Group

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January 8, 2026

Anniversary

Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward talks four years of growth, major acquisitions and what comes next

“If the people who played Scopely’s games over the last 12 months were a country, they would be the third largest country in the world"

December 29, 2025

Best Of 2025

Isa Muhammad's top stories of 2025: Saudi Arabia’s $55bn EA bid, Roblox growth, Netflix’s Warner Bros gamble, and more

PocketGamer.biz MENA reporter Isa Muhammad revisits his top stories from 2025

December 15, 2025

Mena Trends

Key MENA trends: Partnerships, console growth, and Saudi's strategic shift

Savvy alone signed at least 15 MoUs in 2025, making partnerships one of the year’s defining themes

December 1, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group and King Saud University team up to develop future talent for Saudi Arabia's games and esports sector

The MoU creates a framework for joint initiatives in skill development, knowledge exchange, and industry exposure

November 27, 2025

Possible Acqusition

Report: ByteDance is exploring the sale of Moonton to Savvy Games Group

The talks revive a previously paused plan to offload the Mobile Legends maker

November 24, 2025

Ambition Check

Saudi Arabia’s PIF reportedly short on fresh capital for new investments

Insiders say much of the fund’s wealth is tied up in illiquid megaprojects like Neom

November 20, 2025

Pgc Aqaba

MENA’s games industry and global leaders forge trailblazing connections at Pocket Gamer Connects Aqaba

Local, regional and global games industry delegates gathered to explore the world’s fastest growing games market at PG Connects Aqaba 2025

November 10, 2025

Best Of Mena 2025

The Top 30 MENA Game Makers of 2025

The publishers and developers to watch in the Middle East and North Africa region

November 5, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Humain to advance AI adoption across its operations

The partnership focuses on developing tailored AI tools for key business functions, including game development 

September 29, 2025

Mega Deal

It’s official: EA agrees $55bn buyout deal

Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners swoop for publisher in all-cash deal

September 29, 2025

Buyout Speculation

What might a $55bn EA buyout mean?

Games industry analysts offer their insights on what a potential deal could mean

September 23, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Alinma Bank to deliver tailored banking solutions for Saudi gamers

The partnership aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy

September 3, 2025

Strategic Move

Savvy eyes multibillion-dollar deals in China and Asia amid US-China tensions

Currently ranked 8th globally, Savvy is pushing to climb the publishing charts

September 1, 2025

Hot Five

Hot Five: Uma Musume: Pretty Derby’s overseas victory, Destiny: Rising’s mobile launch, and India's games companies hit by real-money ban

Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz

August 29, 2025

Marvellous Mena

Saudi Arabia’s games market projected to reach $1.64bn by 2028

Savvy Games Group's 2024 annual report shows the MENA region generated $5.62bn in 2024 and is estimated to reach $6.94bn in 2027

August 26, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Al Jouf’s strategic office to develop games and esports

Savvy and JSDO will co-organise events to attract gamers and esports fans to the region

August 25, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group partners with AWS to boost Saudi Arabia’s games technology infrastructure

Savvy CEO Brian Ward says the deal will empower the Kingdom’s developer ecosystem

August 25, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group signs MoU with Unity to boost opportunities for Saudi games developers

Qualifying projects gain free access to Unity’s backend, analytics, ads, and multiplayer tools

August 15, 2025

Winners Revealed

Savvy Games Group and HP conclude GameOn GameJam with winning teams revealed

Winners to join Savvy Academy’s three-month Incubator Program in collaboration with Xsolla

August 7, 2025

Expansions

Territory Studio partner with Savvy Games Group to expand into the Middle East 

Territory will open its first Middle East location in Riyadh later this year 

July 23, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group and King Abdulaziz University partner to launch diplomas in games and esports

The new academic programmes aim to blend classroom learning with hands-on industry experience

July 19, 2025

Podcast | Episode 61

Zynga's successes and failures, and Moon Active takes the fight to Scopely | Week in Mobile Games podcast

The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 61...

July 14, 2025

Expansions

Side signs deal with Savvy Games Group to open Riyadh office

Firm plans to not only support Savvy’s initiatives but also launch its own training programmes in Saudi Arabia

July 14, 2025

Game Update

Steer Studios pulls Grunt Rush from app stores for planned updates

The studio’s debut title is currently unavailable to new players

July 8, 2025

New Offerings

Savvy Games Group and PNU’s Applied College sign MoU to equip women for careers in games development

Training will cover areas like concept design, 3D modelling, animation and interactive storytelling

June 2, 2025

Done Deal

Pokémon Go under new ownership as Scopely closes $3.5bn Niantic deal

Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, Pikmin Bloom and their associated development teams have officially been acquired

May 7, 2025

New Offerings

Savvy Games Group launches Academy website to boost Saudi game development

The Academy includes a series of Savvy-funded initiatives to support the next generation of developers and creatives in the Kingdom

April 25, 2025

New Office

Savvy Games Group opens first permanent HQ in Riyadh 

New HQ now houses both Steer Studios and Mirai, bringing them under one roof

April 18, 2025

Game Jam

Savvy Games Group and HP launch climate-themed Game Jam in Saudi Arabia

The top three teams will then join the Savvy Incubator program in September

April 18, 2025

New Games

New release roundup: Disney Solitaire, Jetpack Joyride Racing, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge and more

We highlight the latest new games that have broken cover over the past week

April 14, 2025

Esports In Mena

Savvy Games Group and Saudi Esports Federation Sign MoU to boost Saudi Arabia esports sector

The MoU will create internship opportunities for graduates of the Saudi Esports Academy

April 14, 2025

Hot Five

Hot Five: Trump tariffs turmoil, Agonalea Games’ $2m funding, and games M&A hits $6.6bn in Q1

Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz

April 8, 2025

Mena Month

How Savvy aims to grow its games empire after $3.5bn Niantic deal

PocketGamer.biz speaks to CEO Brian Ward about buying the Pokémon Go developer Niantic, how it works with Scopely, and its plans outside of mobile

March 25, 2025

Partnership Deal

Scopely to make game based on CD Projekt IP

Polish developer has worked on The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077

March 25, 2025

M&a

Savvy Games Group plots PC and console M&A

Deal could potentially be led by Scopely, says CEO Brian Ward

March 20, 2025

Pokemon Property

Pokémon Go won't get obtrusive ads or sell location data after $3.5bn Scopely acquisition, product director confirms

"That is not happening in Pokémon Go - not now, not ever."

March 13, 2025

Ar And Ai

Niantic Spatial spin-off nets $250m funding after Scopely acquisition

Monopoly Go developer is investing $50m into the tech firm

March 12, 2025

Video

Pocket Gamer Reacts: Breaking down Scopely's blockbuster $3.5bn deal for Niantic's games business

The PocketGamer.biz's hot takes on this big news

March 12, 2025

Straight Stats

Pokémon Go has 20m weekly active players nearly nine years after its global launch

New figures have emerged on Niantic’s licenced games following $3.5bn Scopely deal announcement

March 12, 2025

Acquisition Accomplished

Scopely acquires Pokémon Go developer Niantic's games business in $3.5bn deal

Blockbuster deal brings the multi-billion-dollar hit mobile game under the Savvy Games Group umbrella

February 21, 2025

Mena Guide

Seven reasons why you can't ignore the MENA market

Discover why the MENA region is becoming a global hotspot for business growth in the games industry

February 19, 2025

Big Deal

Niantic reportedly in talks to sell Pokémon Go and games business to Scopely for $3.5bn

The deal isn’t finalised, according to people familiar with the matter, but could be officially announced "in coming weeks"

February 12, 2025

Esports In Mena

Savvy Games Group and HP sign MoU to help Saudi Arabia learners get careers in gaming and esports 

Saudi games and esports group said it will also provide skill-building opportunities through incubator programs

February 12, 2025

New Partnerships

Savvy Games Group and Merak Capital partner to boost Saudi Arabia’s games ecosystem

The partnership builds on Merak Capital's $80 million gaming fund to support the Kingdom's esports sector

January 29, 2025

Dubai Investment Summit

Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 powering global investment, fueling games innovation

Discover how Dubai GameExpo Summit 2025 powered by PG Connects is shaping the future as a destination for games investment

January 22, 2025

New Appointment

Savvy Games Group taps Nika Nour as new SVP and head of international business development

Her career spans Congressional Affairs, digital advocacy, and leadership in the games industry

December 26, 2024

Best Of 2024

Isa Muhammad's top stories of 2024: Nazara's $100m M&A push, Gamathon 24, MENA's gaming boom, and China's license rebound

PocketGamer.biz MENA reporter Isa Muhammad highlights some of the top stories of 2024

November 27, 2024

New Studio

Monopoly Go developer Scopely opens new studio in Saudi Arabia

The new division, called Mirai, is led by industry veteran Charity Joy 

November 8, 2024

Mena's Rising Star

How government investment is fueling rapid growth in the MENA region

The fast-growing market is levelling up its gaming ecosystems and development talent

October 8, 2024

Big Plans Ahead

Scopely plans major acquisition next year

“I hope that we announce at least one megadeal," said Scopely's chief revenue officer Tim O’Brien