Savvy Games Group’s Moonton acquisition cleared by China Nov 2026
Key takeaways
- SAMR published approval notice on November 6, 2026
- SAMR recorded review completion on October 29, 2026
- Deal reported at more than $6 billion; ByteDance bought Moonton in 2021 for ~$4 billion
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has granted unconditional approval to Savvy Games Group’s acquisition of Moonton, the agency’s merger list shows. The notice appeared on SAMR’s register of approvals between October 26 and November 1, 2026 and was published on November 6, with the review recorded as completed on October 29.
The SAMR listing names Saudi Electronic Games Holding Company, Moonton Holdings Limited and Shanghai Moonton Technology Co., Ltd. as the parties involved. PocketGamer.biz first reported the proposed sale in March 2026, when ByteDance agreed to transfer Moonton to Savvy in a deal reported at more than $6 billion. ByteDance originally acquired Moonton in 2021 for roughly $4 billion.
Moonton is best known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and spin-offs such as Magic Chess: Go Go. The buyer sits under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF); earlier this year PIF completed a $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Reports also say PIF and Silver Lake have held talks about acquiring Unity in a deal that could be around $25 billion.
Why it matters
Regulatory clearance from SAMR removes a key legal hurdle: the case listing and published notice give the transaction concrete timestamps (Oct 29 review completion, Nov 6 publication) that move the sale closer to finalisation. For anyone tracking ownership of Mobile Legends, the paperwork now ties Moonton to Savvy and Saudi Electronic Games, with PIF’s recent megadeals underscoring how large strategic acquisitions are shaping the buyer’s portfolio.
Original source
PocketGamer.biz
