According to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is considering merging its two controlled gaming companies—EA and Savvy Games—into a "super conglomerate." PIF is currently the majority shareholder in both companies. EA owns famous franchises such as Battlefield, Madden NFL, and Dead Space, while Savvy Games owns Pokémon GO and several esports organizations.
The merger plan is currently on hold due to Savvy Games' own acquisition. Savvy is acquiring Moonton for $6 billion, the developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. While this MOBA mobile game has limited recognition in the West, it is one of the most profitable mobile games globally, giving Savvy significant influence in this sector.
This merger marks a significant step for PIF's entry into the major gaming industry. The fund acquired EA earlier in 2026 and consolidated a majority stake in Japanese fighting game developer SNK. These investments are led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who identifies himself as a gamer.
PIF's influence on SNK has already been reflected in its games. Cristiano Ronaldo recently appeared in the base roster of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. He plays for Al Nassr, a club in the Saudi Pro League that is also controlled by PIF. Most fans believe his inclusion is related to PIF holding stakes in both Ronaldo and SNK.
According to Bloomberg, this merger may face antitrust investigations. Previously, Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard was hindered by antitrust reviews. EA's massive scale could make advancing the transaction even more difficult.