Saudi PIF Is Considering an EA–Savvy Games Merger

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly weighing a merger of Electronic Arts and Savvy Games Group, its gaming investment vehicle. The objective would be to place a growing collection of console, PC, sports, and mobile-game businesses under a more coordinated global gaming group. The discussions remain preliminary: no final decision has been made. 13

What the proposed merger would combine

The potential group would pair EA’s established publishing portfolio with Savvy’s mobile-focused holdings.

On the EA side, the reporting identifies franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, and Madden NFL. Savvy’s side would include mobile hits Monopoly Go! and Pokémon Go. 13

That would give a single PIF-controlled structure exposure to several major parts of the games business: annual sports releases, premium console and PC games, long-running live-service titles, and mobile games.

Why PIF is considering it

People familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that PIF executives are considering the combination to improve coordination among the fund’s gaming assets and create one of the industry’s largest companies. 3

The logic is organizational as much as commercial. PIF has assembled investments and acquisitions across different gaming categories; folding EA and Savvy into a single group could give it one structure for overseeing a far broader portfolio. That does not mean the companies’ studios, labels, or franchises would necessarily be run in the same way—no integration plan has been announced.

The deals that set up the proposal

EA agreed in 2025 to a $55 billion take-private transaction involving PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The announced financing included $36 billion in cash and existing PIF equity, plus $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan. 18

The European Commission approved the $55 billion EA acquisition under EU merger rules in July 2026. 17

Meanwhile, Savvy has continued building its mobile portfolio. The reported EA–Savvy proposal is unlikely to move ahead before Savvy completes its planned $6 billion acquisition of Chinese mobile company Moonton. 13

What could delay or stop a deal

The clearest reported condition is Moonton. PIF has not reached a final decision on an EA–Savvy merger, and Bloomberg’s sources said a transaction is unlikely before Savvy’s Moonton purchase is complete. 13

A formal combination of two large PIF-controlled gaming businesses could also draw regulatory scrutiny. The earlier EA acquisition required EU clearance, although approval of that transaction would not automatically settle the treatment of a new corporate restructuring. 17

Savvy’s leadership transition

The deliberations come shortly after a change at Savvy. Brian Ward stepped down as chief executive, and Turqi Alnowaiser, PIF’s deputy governor and head of its International Investments Division, became interim CEO while the company seeks a permanent successor. 11

The transition places a senior PIF executive in charge of Savvy during a period when the fund is reportedly considering a more unified structure for its gaming investments. It does not, by itself, confirm that a merger will happen or reveal how any combined company would be managed.

What it could mean for employees and players

A merger of this size naturally raises questions about duplicated corporate functions, publishing operations, technology, and support teams. However, PIF has not announced layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, or a specific integration model tied to the reported proposal.

There is also a strategic question. Savvy’s reported holdings are heavily concentrated in mobile games, while EA is known for large sports, console, and PC franchises. A combined owner could potentially share distribution, analytics, and live-service expertise across those businesses. But it is too early to conclude that EA’s creative strategy would shift toward mobile-style monetization or retention models. The proposal is still under consideration, not an announced operating plan. 13

Bottom line

PIF is reportedly exploring whether EA and Savvy should become one coordinated gaming group, combining major EA franchises with Savvy’s mobile-game portfolio. The idea rests on an already substantial investment base, but it is contingent on further decisions—including Savvy’s pending Moonton acquisition—and may face additional scrutiny before it becomes a completed transaction. 13