Scopely will continue to be led by co-CEOs Walter Driver and Javier Ferreira.
Savvy Games Group, wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has entered into an agreement to acquire California-headquartered game developer and publisher Scopely for $4.9bn.
Scopely portfolio of free-to-play franchises includes Star Trek Fleet Command, Stumble Guys, Scrabble GO, Yahtzee With Buddies, and more.
In addition to Scopely’s development capabilities, publishing infrastructure, and differentiated technology, Savvy now has a global footprint of talented game makers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Commenting on the acquisition, Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group, said: “Scopely is one of the fastest-growing games companies today, and we have long admired their ability to build loyal, engaged player communities. At Savvy Games Group, our mission is to invest in – and grow – the global games community by inviting the best minds to join us. Under Walter and Javier’s stewardship, Scopely has proven to be an exceptional leader and will continue to revolutionise the future of games for years to come. We look forward to further accelerating the company’s ambitions and working together with their talented team of developers, designers, and publishers to create innovative and exciting new products for the gaming community across the world.”
As an autonomous operating company under the Savvy umbrella, Scopely will benefit from Savvy’s long-term patient financial backing to deliver on its strategy to grow and deepen existing franchises, unlock new player audiences through innovative game experiences, and work with the best talent and studios across the industry through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. This acquisition will also build on Scopely’s cross-platform approach to extend its live services expertise to new segments like PC, Console, and other genres of gameplay.
Scopely co-CEO Walter Driver added: “Today’s announcement marks a major milestone in the Scopely journey. Savvy Games Group shares our long-held belief that the companies who have built the deepest relationships with their players will succeed. Together, as one, we will be able to further expand the possibilities of play, continuing to develop beloved game experiences for players around the world. This transformational partnership is a great validation of the incredible talent of our entire Scopely team and will further accelerate our efforts to drive the games industry forward.”
Scopely co-CEO Javier Ferreira stated: “As part of the Savvy Games Group portfolio, we will continue to build one of the world’s most diversified mobile-first games companies. Our technology platform, market-leading studio ecosystem, and the world-class team have always enabled us to stay one step ahead of the rapidly growing games industry, delivering long-lasting franchises that delight players around the world. We look forward to reimagining the future of play with Brian and the Savvy team.”
This investment further supports Savvy’s strategy to drive the growth of the global games industry through long-term strategic investments.
JP Morgan acted as the lead financial advisor to Savvy on this transaction.
