ByteDance Eyes Sale of Mobile Legends Developer to Savvy Group
According to a report citing sources familiar with the matter, ByteDance is currently in discussions to sell Moonton Technology, the developer best known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Savvy Games Group, a major gaming arm backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal is reportedly valued at around 6 to 7 million US dollars and could be finalized within the current quarter if negotiations proceed smoothly.
Neither ByteDance, Moonton Technology, nor Savvy Games Group has issued an official statement regarding the talks. However, if the sale goes through, it would mark a significant retreat by ByteDance from the global online gaming market, an industry it once entered aggressively with ambitions to challenge established publishers. The potential exit suggests a strategic refocus toward ByteDance’s core businesses, particularly social platforms and content-driven services.
ByteDance originally acquired Moonton Technology in 2021 for approximately 4 million US dollars, positioning the studio as a key pillar in its gaming expansion strategy. Mobile Legends quickly proved to be one of the most successful mobile titles in SEA and beyond, dominating the MOBA space with a massive competitive ecosystem, regular content updates, and a deeply entrenched esports scene. Despite that success, rumors about ByteDance exploring a sale of its gaming assets have circulated since 2024, making the latest report feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitable conclusion.
Savvy Games Group, meanwhile, has been steadily expanding its footprint across the global games industry. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the group already holds stakes in several major publishers and developers, including Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, and Koei Tecmo. Acquiring Moonton Technology would further strengthen its position in the mobile and live-service gaming market, especially in regions where Mobile Legends remains a cultural phenomenon rather than just another game.
The broader context makes the timing particularly interesting. The Public Investment Fund has also been linked to large-scale investments and acquisition talks involving major publishers such as Electronic Arts, signaling a long-term strategy to become one of the most influential forces in global gaming. Against that backdrop, Moonton Technology may represent a relatively small deal in dollar terms, but a strategically valuable one in terms of audience reach, esports influence, and recurring revenue potential.
If the acquisition is finalized, the immediate impact on Mobile Legends players is expected to be minimal. Live-service games of this scale are typically insulated from ownership changes, at least in the short term. However, long-term implications around esports investment, regional expansion, and monetization strategy will be closely watched by both players and industry analysts. For now, the possible sale stands as another clear signal that the global games industry is entering a phase of consolidation, where even massively popular titles can quietly change hands behind the scenes.
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