Reuters sources report that the deal could be worth between $6 and $7 billion, and the signing could take place as early as this quarter. Both parties have reached a preliminary agreement on key terms.
If the deal goes through, it would be a significant departure for ByteDance from online gaming. In 2021, the company bought Moonton through its Nuverse division for $4 billion, seeking to compete with the largest international game publishers.
Moonton was founded in 2014 and currently has more than 2,000 employees, with offices in Asia and Latin America. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been installed more than 1.5 billion times, with an active audience of over 110 million people per month, and the game is in the top 10 in 80 countries.
Savvy Games Group, controlled by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, is actively expanding its presence through acquisitions and investments, having previously acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion. The deal with Moonton will strengthen the company's position in the global market and reflects the trend of consolidation in the video game industry.