China approves Savvy Games Group's $6bn Moonton acquisition from ByteDance

Published 10 Nov 2026 · Games Atlas Editorial · Regulation & Compliance · Companies: Savvy Games Group, Electronic Arts, Unity Technologies

Games Atlas summary: China's State Administration for Market Regulation granted unconditional approval to Savvy Games Group's acquisition of Moonton on October 29, 2026. The deal, first reported in March 2026, is valued at more than $6bn. ByteDance bought Moonton for approximately $4bn in 2021, putting its exit roughly $2bn above that purchase price. Clearance removes the last disclosed regulatory hurdle before Savvy completes its entry into mobile esports.

Regulatory clearance closes a seven-month review

• SAMR completed its review of the transaction on October 29, 2026.
• The regulator listed the deal among mergers granted unconditional approval between October 26 and November 1, 2026.
• The case names Saudi Electronic Games Holding Company, Moonton Holdings Limited and Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd. as the parties.
• Savvy first agreed to acquire Moonton in March 2026, seven months before clearance.

ByteDance exits at a premium to its 2021 purchase price

• ByteDance acquired Moonton for approximately $4bn in 2021 as part of its push into games.
• The sale to Savvy, valued at more than $6bn, returns roughly $2bn above that purchase price.
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and its spin-off Magic Chess: Go Go anchor the asset's value.
• The deal ends ByteDance's five-year ownership of the mobile esports studio.

Moonton extends a run of PIF-backed gaming deals

• Savvy's parent, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, completed a $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts earlier this year.
• PIF ran that EA deal alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.
• PIF and Silver Lake separately held talks to acquire game engine company Unity in a deal potentially valued at $25bn.
• Moonton adds a mobile esports asset to a PIF-linked portfolio already spanning publishing and engine infrastructure.

Sources

• China approves Savvy Games Group’s Moonton acquisition | PocketGamer.biz (pocketgamer.biz)