ByteDance & Savvy Games Value Moonton’s Sale Deal at $6-7 Billion

TikTok parent ByteDance is in advanced talks to sell Moonton Technology—a Shanghai-based studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)—to Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group. According to an exclusive report published by Reuters on February 13, 2026, the potential game deal is valued at a price of $6-7 billion with a final agreement possibly signed as soon as the end of Q1 2026. Moonton’s sale could reshape global mobile game market.

Both companies have reportedly reached an initial agreement on the broad terms of the deal, though no official confirmation has been issued by ByteDance, Moonton, or Savvy Games Group. For tens of millions of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang players worldwide, this is the biggest corporate news to hit MLBB ecosystem in years. As MLBB’s official partner, JollyMax offers global players easy, fast & safe top-up of the game for value-added items and services.

Moonton’s Deal in Numbers: $4 Billion to $7 Billion in 5 Years

ByteDance originally acquired Moonton in 2021 via its gaming arm Nuverse, in a deal valuing the studio at approximately $4 billion, as previously reported by Reuters. A sale at $6-7 billion would represent a gain of 50-75% on that original price—a premium driven entirely by sustained commercial dominance of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the global market of mobile games.

Here is a snapshot of what makes the valuation of Moonton Technology so compelling:

• 1.5 billion+ lifetime installs of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• 110 million+ monthly active users (MAU)
• Ranks in the top 10 most-played games in over 80 countries
• Available in 139 countries with a global esports presence
• 475 million Hours Watched across the MLBB esports ecosystem in 2024
• M7 World Championship peaked at 5.6 million Peak Concurrent Viewers—the second-highest ever for any esports event, behind only League of Legends, and a new all-time record for a mobile esports title

At $6-7 billion, the transaction would rank among the top 10 largest gaming acquisitions in history. It also underscores that live-service mobile IP with proven retention and monetization—through skins, seasonal content, and esports integration—commands premium multiples even in a market where many other studios are financially struggling. For better gaming experience and advanced player features, top up Mobile Legends: Bang Bang easily, fastly & safely at JollyMax official website.

Why ByteDance Sells? A Strategic Exit from Online Games

For ByteDance and its executives, the potential sale of Moonton is not about financial distress—it is about strategic focus on its core business and future competency. Reuters noted the deal “would mark ByteDance’s major retreat from online games”. The trajectory of ByteDance’s gaming ambitions tells a clear story:

1. Year 2021: ByteDance acquires Moonton via Nuverse for ~$4 billion, aiming to build an international games business to challenge major rivals.
2. Year 2023: ByteDance announces a restructuring of its gaming division, winding down its Nuverse brand and beginning to pull back from hardcore game development.
3. Year 2024: ByteDance confirms it is in discussions to sell its game business, with Tencent initially cited as a potential buyer. Several projects are eventually divested to Tencent.
4. November 2025: Bloomberg first reports that ByteDance has revived Moonton sale talks with Savvy Games Group, though discussions were described as preliminary at the time.
5. February 13, 2026: Reuters reports that talks have reached an “advanced” stage with broad terms agreed, and a deal could close as soon as the end of Q1 2026.

Meanwhile, ByteDance’s core business has never been stronger. Its first- and second-quarter 2025 revenues both surpassed those of Meta (Facebook / Instagram), making it the world’s number one social media company by sales, according to Reuters. ByteDance was valued at over $330 billion in its Q3 2025 share buyback.

For ByteDance, selling Moonton is about redirecting capital toward AI infrastructure—specifically large language models like Seedance—and sustaining the TikTok ecosystem. JollyMax sells top-up items and services of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at www.jollymax.com to level up player features and gaming experience.

Who Is Savvy Group? Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Powerhouse

Savvy Games Group is a global games and esports company founded in 2021 and wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)—the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. It is central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the national economy and establish the kingdom as a global games hub. The Moonton deal, if completed, would be its latest and potentially most consequential acquisition yet. Its previous major brand collaborations and buyouts in the game market include:

• ESL and FACEIT: Merged to form the ESL FACEIT Group, giving Savvy control over major PC esports tournament infrastructure worldwide.
• Scopely ($4.9 billion, 2023): The maker of mobile hits including Monopoly Go, acquired for nearly $5 billion, making it one of the largest mobile gaming deals of that year.
• Niantic’s games division ($3.5 billion, 2025): Scopely (under Savvy ownership) acquired the maker of Pokémon Go for $3.5 billion.
• Electronic Arts ($55 billion, 2026, pending): PIF, alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, is acquiring EA in a deal that would take the FIFA, Apex Legends, and Battlefield publisher private.

Savvy Games also holds minority stakes in Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, and Koei Tecmo. Adding Moonton Technology would give Savvy Games direct control over a dominant Southeast Asian mobile franchise—a segment of the global mobile game market where its existing portfolio is comparatively thin.

This deal would allow Saudi Arabia to control an entire segment of a major esports value chain—from game publishing to tournament operations—while securing a title with over 1.5 billion downloads. Combined with ESL FACEIT’s PC tournament ecosystem, Scopely’s casual mobile portfolio, and the potential EA acquisition, Savvy would hold arguably the most diversified gaming portfolio of any single entity on earth.

What Moonton’s Deal Means to MLBB Game Players?

For everyday Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) players—whether in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey, or beyond—the most important question is: what changes?

Based on Savvy’s track record with its other acquisitions, here is what MLBB game market could look like under new ownership:

• Expanded esports investment: Savvy already owns tournament infrastructure through ESL FACEIT. MLBB’s MPL league system could benefit from deeper integration, increased prize pools, and new international tournament formats—potentially helping players earn money and make money through competitive play.
• More brand collaborations: With ties to EA, Scopely, and multiple major publishers, Savvy could unlock cross-IP brand collaborations for MLBB skins, game items, and limited events that were previously impossible under ByteDance.
• Increased Middle East presence: MLBB is already confirmed to return to the 2026 Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, an event directly funded by PIF. A Savvy-owned Moonton would have even stronger incentives to invest in the MENA region.
• Operational continuity: Savvy’s acquisition strategy has historically kept developers operating independently. Scopely continued as a standalone studio after its 2023 acquisition. Moonton is likely to do the same, meaning MLBB’s development team in Shanghai, and its regional offices, should remain intact.

That said, analysts caution that no deal is confirmed yet. ByteDance, Moonton, and Savvy Games Group have all declined to comment publicly. The game deal could still face regulatory scrutiny, particularly given the broader political sensitivities around Saudi Arabia’s gaming acquisitions in Western markets. MLBB game continues business as usual until an official announcement is made.

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FAQs on ByteDance & Savvy Games’ Deal on Moonton

Is ByteDance’s sale of Moonton Technology officially confirmed?

No. As of the time of writing, neither ByteDance, Moonton, nor Savvy Games Group has issued an official statement confirming the deal. The reporting comes from two sources cited by Reuters who were not authorized to speak publicly. Both parties have declined to comment.

How much is Moonton Technology being sold for?

According to Reuters, the deal is valued at between $6 billion and $7 billion. This compares to ByteDance’s original ~$4 billion acquisition price in 2021—a valuation increase of 50–75% driven by MLBB’s continued growth and esports dominance.

Who is Savvy Games Group?

Savvy Games Group is a Saudi Arabian games and esports company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). It has previously acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion and Niantic’s game division for $3.5 billion, and is part of a consortium acquiring Electronic Arts for $55 billion.

When could Moonton’s deal be finalized?

One source cited by Reuters indicated that a deal could be finalized as soon as the end of Q1 2026 (by March 2026). However, as final negotiations are still ongoing, the timeline remains uncertain.

Will Mobile Legends: Bang Bang change if the deal goes through?

There is no official indication that Mobile Legends: Bang Bang gameplay, content updates, or in-game items will change. Savvy Games has historically allowed acquired studios like Scopely to operate independently. Moonton is expected to continue developing and publishing MLBB as before, though long-term investment levels and esports partnerships may expand.

Why is ByteDance selling Moonton Technology?

ByteDance began restructuring its gaming division in 2023, after deciding that gaming did not align with its core strategic strengths in social media, ad tech, and AI. The Moonton sale is described by Reuters as a “major retreat from online games”, with the proceeds expected to fund ByteDance’s AI infrastructure and TikTok development.

Conclusion: Final Deal Results Are Close

The reported $6–7 billion game deal between ByteDance and Savvy Games Group for Moonton Technology is one of the most consequential transactions in the history of the mobile game industry—and the largest ever centered on a single mobile MOBA title. For Mobile Legends: Bang Bang players worldwide, it signals that MLBB is not just a beloved game: it is a premium global asset that commands billion-dollar attention. While nothing is final yet, the direction is clear. Whether the deal closes this quarter or later, the MLBB player community can expect continued—and likely increased—investment in the game, its esports ecosystem, and its game items and seasonal content. Stay tuned for official updates from Moonton.