Saudi Investment Fund considering EA-Savvy merger
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering combining Electronic Arts with Savvy Games Group, potentially bringing one of the world's biggest game publishers together with the Saudi-backed company's growing gaming portfolio.
According to Bloomberg, as reported by Reuters, PIF executives are weighing a merger between the two companies, which are already controlled by the sovereign wealth fund. The proposed combination could place major EA franchises, including EA Sports FC, Battlefield, and The Sims, alongside Savvy's mobile gaming assets. The discussions are still at an early stage, with no final decision reported.
EA and Savvy could form a major gaming business
The proposal comes shortly after PIF completed its roughly $55 billion acquisition of EA through a consortium with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. EA's shareholders received $210 per share in cash, and the publisher was taken private following the completion of the deal.
A merger with Savvy would therefore be a consolidation of two businesses already within PIF's portfolio rather than a conventional acquisition between separate owners.
Bloomberg reported that the potential combination is being considered to improve coordination between PIF's gaming assets and create a major global gaming company.
EA brings established franchises and a large publishing operation. Savvy has spent years expanding its presence across gaming and esports, with a particular focus on mobile gaming.
What would a combined company look like?
EA would bring some of the industry's most recognisable franchises, including EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Madden NFL and Apex Legends. The company reported approximately $7.5 billion in GAAP net revenue for fiscal 2026.
Savvy's portfolio includes Scopely, the mobile publisher behind games such as Monopoly Go! and Pokémon GO. Its planned acquisition of Moonton would further expand its position in the mobile market.
Together, the businesses could give PIF a broad gaming operation spanning major PC and console franchises, mobile games, and other areas of the industry.
Saudi Arabia's gaming ambitions continue to grow
The reported discussions fit into Saudi Arabia's broader push to establish a significant position in the global gaming industry.
PIF launched Savvy Games Group in 2022 and has since built a portfolio covering gaming companies, esports, and other parts of the sector. The acquisition of EA significantly expanded that reach, giving the fund control of one of the industry's biggest publishers.
Combining EA with Savvy would potentially give PIF a more unified gaming operation and greater control over a diverse collection of international gaming assets. The move would come as the global games industry deals with slower growth, cost-cutting, and widespread layoffs. Reuters also notes that companies are seeking greater scale and recurring revenue during a challenging period for the sector.
Savvy is meanwhile undergoing a leadership change, with CEO Brian Ward stepping down after overseeing the company's international investment and acquisition strategy. Reuters does not establish a connection between his departure and the reported EA-Savvy discussions.
For now, there is no confirmed EA-Savvy deal. Reuters reports that PIF has not announced a transaction, while EA and Savvy did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and PIF declined to comment.
If PIF eventually moves ahead, the combination would bring EA's global publishing business together with Savvy's expanding gaming portfolio under the same corporate structure. It would also mark another significant step in Saudi Arabia's effort to build a major global presence in gaming.
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