Savvy Games Group Teams Up with NEOM for New Accelerator Initiatives
International gaming and esports entity Savvy Games Group has announced a new partnership with the ambitious NEOM mega city project. While the financial specifics of this agreement remain undisclosed, it’s noteworthy that both Savvy and NEOM are backed by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
This collaboration aims to enhance support for gaming startups in Saudi Arabia through their respective incubator programs, including the Savvy Nine66 Incubator and the NEOM Level Up Accelerator. The process is designed to be seamless: startups that successfully complete the Savvy program will transition into NEOM’s acceleration phase for further support. This initiative aligns with the Saudi government’s broader strategy to expand the gaming ecosystem and generate employment opportunities as part of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.
Savvy’s Nine66 Incubator Program has reportedly assisted early-stage studios in validating prototypes, building essential capabilities, and preparing for investor interactions. Similarly, NEOM’s Level Up Accelerator has evolved into a multi-phase platform that supports over 45 Saudi startups, has made 15 investments, and boasts a 100% survival rate among its portfolio, surpassing many global standards. The initiative has also collaborated with 17 international partners for publishing and support, leading to the creation of over 170 jobs and marking a significant achievement with the Kingdom’s first international publishing deal for a local gaming startup, signed between Fahy Studio and a UK-based publisher.
Given that both organizations are funded by the Saudi government and its substantial sovereign wealth fund, it’s challenging to determine if any direct financial transactions are involved in this agreement. Their collaboration is primarily focused on fulfilling the government’s objectives for Vision 2030, which aims to establish new revenue streams beyond oil sales and promote growth in sectors like tourism, gaming, esports, and entertainment.
NEOM represents a futuristic city initiative that plays a crucial role in Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the nation’s economy by fostering new business ventures in gaming, entertainment, esports, and tourism. This vision is championed by Saudi Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the country. Other notable projects under Vision 2030 and the PIF include the Esports World Cup Foundation, Esports Nations Cup, and the Qiddiya city project.
Savvy is a cornerstone of the PIF’s investments in gaming and esports, overseeing all government investments in gaming companies globally. It also includes mobile game developer Scopely, Japanese game studio SNK Corporation, and ESL FACEIT Group, which encompasses ESL, DreamHack, and FACEIT. Additionally, it is set to acquire Electronic Arts once the purchase agreement is finalized.
Concerns have been raised regarding the PIF’s financial sustainability for future investments, as reported in a November 2025 article. Furthermore, entities associated with the Saudi 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, as highlighted by various international watchdog organizations.
