Observed Signal · Sep 21, 2026 · Leadership Change · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Brian Ward asked to remain as Savvy Games Group advisor
Brian Ward, the founding CEO of Savvy Games Group, has been asked to stay on as an advisor following his departure earlier this month. Ward, who led the Saudi gaming entity for five years, stated on LinkedIn that the company is entering a new phase of transformational growth and is no longer a startup. He expressed his willingness to continue supporting Savvy's mandate and Saudi Arabia's national games strategy, though it remains unclear if he has accepted the advisory role. During his tenure, Ward oversaw Savvy's $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely in 2023 and expanded the company's global games and esports portfolio. PocketGamer.biz has reached out to Savvy for confirmation on the advisory position.
Leadership change for a major gaming investment group; relevant to gaming industry but not directly to AdTech or marketing technology.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Brian Ward has been asked to remain as an advisor to Savvy Games Group after stepping down as CEO.
- Ward served as Savvy's founding CEO for five years, starting in 2021.
- Savvy Games Group's $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely occurred in 2023 under Ward's leadership.
- Ward stated on LinkedIn that Savvy is entering a new period of transformational growth.
- It is unconfirmed whether Ward has accepted the advisory role.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Former Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward has been asked to remain as an advisor to the Saudi gaming entity....”
“His tenure included Savvy’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Scopely in 2023....”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward Steps Down
Brian Ward, founding CEO of Savvy Games Group, has stepped down, marking a significant shift in Saudi Arabia's gaming industry ambitions. Since 2021, Ward oversaw over $13 billion in investments from Savvy's $38 billion commitment, including major acquisitions such as Scopely for $4.9 billion, ESL and FACEIT in 2022, and the pending $6 billion deal for Moonton Games. He also built strategic partnerships to develop local talent. His departure comes amid a broader PIF spending review, with other projects scaled back. Turqi Alnowaiser, a senior PIF executive, will serve as interim acting CEO. Under Ward, Savvy also completed the PIF's $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts. The future of Savvy under closer PIF control remains uncertain, especially regarding coordination with EA.
Saudi PIF considers merging Savvy and EA into gaming supergroup
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reportedly considering merging its gaming subsidiary Savvy Games Group with Electronic Arts (EA) to form a global gaming supergroup, according to Bloomberg. The move would coordinate assets and address EA's mobile gaming weakness through synergies with Scopely and Niantic's studios. No final decision has been made. The potential merger is contingent on Savvy's pending $6 billion acquisition of Moonton, maker of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Savvy, which acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion in 2023 and helped Scopely buy Niantic's games portfolio for $3.5 billion in 2025, also controls ESL Faceit Group. In 2025, a PIF-led consortium took EA private for $55 billion. Savvy's CEO Brian Ward recently stepped down, replaced by Turqi Alnowaiser.
Savvy, Genvid and Massive Expand AI for Saudi Developers
Savvy Games Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Genvid Holdings and Massive Studios to give Saudi-based game studios access to advanced AI tools and training. The agreements cover talent development via training, mentorship programmes and educational resources built around the partners' proprietary AI platforms. Savvy will help both partners build relationships with local developers and universities and facilitate access to tools and training. Genvid provides an enterprise AI production platform that tracks creative inputs and verifies approved assets; Massive Studios offers AI-powered content creation with an emphasis on ethical AI and IP protection. Executives from all three organisations highlighted the aim of growing local AI-native game development in support of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and national gaming strategy.
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