Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly contemplating a merger between Electronic Arts (EA) and Savvy Games Group

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia is contemplating a potential merger between Electronic Arts and its subsidiary, Savvy Games Group. Insiders suggested to Bloomberg that the goal of this merger would be to enhance coordination among its gaming investments. Savvy Games currently holds a diverse portfolio, which includes ownership of Scopely, ESL Gaming and FaceIt, as well as a significant investment in the Swedish firm Embracer Group.

Savvy Games also possesses stakes in various international companies such as Nintendo, Capcom and Nexon, as well as Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard and Koei Tecmo. Furthermore, Savvy's latest acquisition endeavor involves the purchase of the Chinese mobile gaming company Moonton for $6 billion, announced this past March. Insiders revealed that the integration of EA into Savvy is unlikely to proceed until this transaction is finalized.

The PIF spearheaded a $55 billion leveraged buyout of EA, which concluded recently, turning the Saudi fund into EA's majority shareholder. This acquisition was initially unveiled last September, driven by a coalition of investors comprising PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Despite this significant change in ownership, EA assured its employees that its core mission, values, and dedication to its global audience remain constant. The company emphasized its commitment to retaining creative independence and adhering to its player-centric approach. EA noted that the investment group is supportive of its vision and creative emphasis, aimed at delivering diverse gaming experiences worldwide.

The role of CEO at Savvy Games is currently held on an interim basis by Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of the PIF, following the recent resignation of Brian Ward. Ward, who has guided Savvy Games since its founding in 2021, was instrumental in directing a $37.8 billion investment strategy aimed at bolstering Saudi Arabia's influence within the global gaming sector. In his communication to staff, Ward expressed that new leadership would be beneficial as Savvy embarks on a transformative phase.