Electronic Arts could be folded into Savvy Games Group after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took the publisher private, according to a Bloomberg report cited by GamesIndustry.biz. No decision has been made, and the proposal is not a completed merger.
EA Savvy merger would bring two large gaming portfolios together
The PIF led the $55bn acquisition that took EA private last month. A combination with Savvy would place EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims and Apex Legends alongside Savvy-owned businesses including Scopely, ESL FACEIT Group and the games acquired through Scopely’s purchase of Niantic’s gaming division.
Savvy is also in the process of acquiring Chinese mobile games company Moonton for $6bn. Bloomberg’s sources said any merger with EA is unlikely before that deal is complete. The two companies would also need to deal with the regulatory questions that come with putting a major publisher and a large mobile, esports and investment portfolio under one owner.
The report follows the departure of Savvy chief executive Brian Ward. Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of the PIF and head of its International Investments Division, is serving as interim CEO.
What EA says about the proposed combination
EA has not confirmed that a merger is being planned. In a statement quoted by GamesIndustry.biz, the publisher said: “EA will maintain creative control, and our track record of creative freedom and player-first values will remain intact.”
That is the position for now. A combined group could coordinate investments and ownership more closely, but there is no announced change to EA’s games, studios or release plans. EA’s UAE player base should not expect an immediate change to EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims or Apex Legends as a result of the report.
EA has already faced scrutiny over the cost of its buyout and the $20bn in new debt reported by GameSpot. The proposed EA Savvy merger would add another layer to the publisher’s new ownership structure. For now, it remains an option being considered by the PIF, not an announced transaction.
For background, EA is now Saudi-owned and has already been covered in relation to its reported cost-cutting plans.
Has the EA Savvy merger been agreed?
No. Bloomberg’s report describes a proposal being considered by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and no final decision has been made.
Why would EA and Savvy Games Group be combined?
The PIF is reportedly considering a combination to coordinate its gaming assets more closely across publishing, mobile games, esports and investments.
What must happen before the merger can move forward?
Savvy is expected to complete its $6bn acquisition of Moonton first, and any EA-Savvy transaction would also face regulatory review.
