Savvy Games Group Acquires Mobile Developer Scopely
Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has successfully completed its acquisition of mobile developer Scopely, after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. This acquisition, valued at $4.9 billion, is one of the largest gaming deals in history. Under the Savvy umbrella, Scopely will operate as an autonomous business unit and utilize the long-term investment to expand its existing franchises, target new audiences, form strategic partnerships, and make its own acquisitions.
Furthermore, this acquisition will enable Scopely to extend its cross-platform development and live service expertise to PC and console platforms, as well as explore new genres.
According to Scopely co-CEO Walter Driver, “For more than a decade, our incredible Scopely team has been dedicated to expanding the possibilities of play. By combining our expertise and resources with Savvy Games Group, we will build an even brighter future for the games industry. Our shared commitment to excellence will enable us to deliver on our ambitious vision to bring immersive, highly engaging games to players around the world, across every device. This is just the beginning.”
Co-CEO Javier Ferreira added, “Together with Brian and the Savvy team, we will continue to build one of the world’s most diversified mobile-first games companies. Community and connection is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to delivering long-lasting franchises that delight players everywhere.”
Scopely’s Success and Growth
In recent years, Scopely has experienced tremendous success, largely due to its games based on well-known IPs such as Star Trek: Fleet Command and Marvel Strike Force. Most notably, the company achieved significant success with the launch of Monopoly GO!, which had the biggest casual launch in the past five years.
Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward expressed his belief in Scopely’s mission and talented team, stating, “This is the largest investment Savvy has made to-date, which is testament to our deep belief in Scopely’s mission and their talented, global team led by Walter and Javier. The recent success of their newest game ‘Monopoly GO!’ is indicative of Scopely’s ongoing position at the forefront of the global games sector, underpinned by their ability to reach diverse audiences through compelling player experiences. With the support of Savvy’s long-term investment, Scopely will continue driving innovation in the games sector for decades to come.”
Scopely was listed as one of the top 50 mobile game makers of 2022 and the upcoming 2023 list will be revealed in the coming months.