Saudi Arabia's PIF Transfers $12 Billion Gaming Shares to Savvy Games Group
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is making a major move in the gaming industry. The sovereign wealth fund is reportedly transferring about $12 billion worth of shares in gaming companies to its subsidiary, Savvy Games Group. This transfer includes stakes in prominent firms like Nintendo Co and Bandai Namco Holdings.
Expanding Savvy's Portfolio
According to a Bloomberg report, the transfer will significantly expand Savvy's holdings. Once completed, Savvy will own approximately 10% of several gaming companies. These companies include Koei Tecmo Holdings Inc., NCSoft Corp., Nexon Co., and Square Enix Holdings Co. Bloomberg reviewed a company document that confirmed these details.
The share transfer aims to strengthen Savvy's position as a key player in the global gaming market. Savvy still has billions of dollars available for future investments in gaming businesses. This move comes as the company continues to build its presence in the industry.
Strategic Investments and Recent Activities
Although the Public Investment Fund is the largest investor in Electronic Arts Inc.'s $55 billion buyout, Savvy is not involved in that transaction. A person familiar with the buyout confirmed this separation. In late December, the government arm already transferred its 11 million shares of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. through a regulatory filing.
Savvy Games Group was established in 2021 as part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. The company celebrated its fourth anniversary in December 2025. With $38 billion allocated for investment, Savvy has acquired several notable gaming entities.
These acquisitions include Monopoly Go developer Scopely Inc. and Pokemon Go developer Niantic. Savvy also purchased several esports organizations. While Monopoly Go achieved breakout success, the company's esports investments have faced some challenges. Savvy recently announced layoffs in this segment.
Building a Gaming Ecosystem
CEO Brian Ward recently discussed the company's ambitious goals with Pocketgamer. He emphasized the complexity of building a complete gaming sector and ecosystem from scratch. Ward stated that achieving self-sustainability requires substantial resources, effort, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
The CEO highlighted the need for collaboration in various areas, from education to hard infrastructure, and from policies to partnerships. Ward expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to achieve these goals. He pointed to the significant commitment to games and esports from all important stakeholders within the domestic ecosystem.
Long-Planned Transfer
Amar Batkhuu, a spokesperson for Savvy Games Group, provided additional context about the share transfer. He explained that these transfers have been planned for a considerable time. Batkhuu told Bloomberg that the move will transfer stewardship of PIF's games investments to Savvy.
The spokesperson emphasized Savvy's role as a leading games organization for the Public Investment Fund. He described Savvy as a core component of Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy. Batkhuu also confirmed that there are no plans to change the current investment strategy following the transfer.
