ByteDance in talks to reportedly sell Moonton to Saudi Arabia for $7 billion

ByteDance is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to sell Shanghai Moonton Technology (MOONTON), the developer behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), to Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group.

According to a report by Reuters, sources claiming to have insider knowledge shared that the deal is valued at between $6bn (~£4.4bn) to $7bn (~£5.2bn).

As of writing, neither ByteDance, MOONTON or Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group have verified the report.

Reuters alleges that an initial agreement has been reached on the broad terms of the deal, and that it could be formalised by the end of this quarter (March 2026).

MOONTON is the developer behind MLBB, one of the most popular competitive mobile MOBA titles. The game has also fostered a popular esports scene, with the M7 World Championship recently becoming the fourth most-viewed esports event of all time.

Savvy Games Group has continued to expand its presence in the gaming and esports scenes. It has acquired gaming developers in the past, including Scopely in 2023 for $4.9bn (~£3.9bn). In esports, it has invested into tournament operators such as VSPO in 2023, and has partnered with King Abdulaziz University to launch gaming and esports training programmes.

Only time will tell whether MLBB will be acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, a holding company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). MLBB has crossed paths with the kingdom more frequently in recent years.

MLBB has been confirmed to return to the Esports World Cup in 2026, an international event run by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF). The tournament itself receives direct funding from the Saudi Arabian government’s PIF as the host nation. MOONTON’s popular mobile title was also the first to be unveiled for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, also run by the EWCF.

Saudi Arabia’s human rights record faces scrutiny online, as the kingdom’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community and Women’s rights continues to be criticised.