Savvy Games Group strikes key deals to power MENA industry growth

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I mentioned in last week’s newsletter the influence that Eastern games companies have on the global games industry. This week, Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group accelerated its push to develop the country and the wider Middle East region as a games hub.

In its annual report, the company gave an update on its strategy, noting that it had now grown to over 3,500 employees worldwide across 22 countries. It of course owns US publisher Scopely, which it acquired for $4.9 billion.

With the enormous success of Monopoly GO!, which has already amassed $3 billion in revenue after its launch just over a year ago, that price is starting to look like a steal. It of course also owns other huge hits, too, including Stumble Guys, Yahtzee with Buddies, Star Trek Fleet Command and Marvel Strike Force.

Scopely itself houses more than 2,300 staff. Meanwhile, Savvy owns esports firm ESL FACEIT Group and competitive gaming technology and infrastructure firm, Vindex. It has also invested $265m in esports events operator VSPO for a 30% stake, and owns an 8.1% equity stake in Embracer Group.

It also owns Saudi Arabia-based Steer Studios, which is developing mobile title Grunt Rush and has started building a new console division. It currently employs 72 staff.

Tip of the iceberg

“2023 was a transformative year for Savvy,” said Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward. No kidding.

It now aims to create 600 new games industry jobs in Saudi Arabia over the next couple of years, and has plans in place for Scopely and ESL FACEIT Group to develop or increase their presence in the country this year. PocketGamer.biz understands, however, that local job creation will largely be driven by its other partnerships signed this week.

It signed a memorandum of understanding with Pokémon Go developer Niantic to establish its regional operations in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt by securing office space, recruiting local talent, and providing administrative and logistical support for setting up a functional regional office. A similar deal with games commerce company Xsolla aims to grow the local games and esports scene and help create 3,600 games industry jobs by 2030. Xsolla will open a new office in Riyadh (the firm has been ramping up its global expansion), and will also establish the Xsolla Game Development Academy, Incubator, and Accelerator programs to support local and international game development studios.

We’ve been keeping a close eye on MENA (and will of course host Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan on November 9th and 10th). While Savvy Games Group of course has $38 billion to invest in the sector, PocketGamer.biz has spoken extensively with CEOs across the Middle East this year, who say that strategy has led to increased investment and activity in other countries in the region, aimed at competing with Saudi Arabia and expanding their games hubs.

For game development in the Middle East, it’s an exciting time. And the partnerships and deals mentioned here feel like just the tip of the iceberg.