Savvy Partners with King Saud University for New Initiative

Savvy Games Group announced on Monday that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to collaborate on developing gaming and esports talent in the region.

This agreement aims to establish a framework for cooperation that will nurture future talent in these burgeoning sectors, aligning with the Saudi Arabian government’s Vision 2023 initiative. This vision seeks to diversify the economy away from oil dependency and into areas like entertainment, tourism, gaming, and esports. Savvy Games Group plans to provide students with direct exposure to its gaming and esports operations through various collaborative initiatives and programs.

Majed Al-Muhanna, Chief Human Resource Officer at Savvy Games Group, stated, “This partnership with King Saud University reflects our commitment to building the next generation of talent that will help shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s games and esports sectors.”

In a LinkedIn announcement, Savvy Games Group shared, “Through this partnership, we will work together on initiatives that advance skill development, promote knowledge exchange, and create pathways for students to gain exposure to the interactive entertainment industry. These efforts contribute to the goals of the #SavvyAcademy and align with the National Gaming and Esports Strategy under #Vision2030.”

Savvy Games Group is a gaming and esports entity fully owned by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The group manages the government’s investments in the gaming sector, which includes stakes in companies like Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard, as well as a significant investment in developer Niantic. Additionally, it owns Scopely, the maker of Monopoly Go, Japanese fighting game developer SNK Corporation, and the esports and festival company ESL FACEIT Group.

The PIF is also looking to acquire a stake in Electronic Arts, facilitating a deal that could take the company private, valued at $55 billion USD.

Entities associated with the Saudi Arabian government often face accusations of engaging in “sports washing,” using sports and entertainment to distract from issues related to human rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and military actions in Yemen. These concerns are frequently highlighted by international watchdog organizations.