Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward Departs After Ambitious Acquisition Spree
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Brian Ward, the CEO of Savvy Games Group, the Saudi Arabian state-owned investment giant in gaming, has stepped down from his role. His departure follows a period marked by significant acquisitions, including Pokémon Go developer Niantic and Monopoly Go studio Scopely, as part of a broader $38 billion investment strategy into the global gaming industry.
A Period of Transformation and Change
In a message to staff, verified by Bloomberg, Ward indicated that his departure is timed for a new phase of growth within Savvy Games Group. Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor of the Public Investment Fund and Head of its International Investments Division, will serve as interim CEO. This transition comes after a period where Savvy made waves with major investments, including $3.5 billion for Niantic in 2025 and $4.9 billion for Scopely. The company also invested heavily in esports, aiming to establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for competitive gaming, although recent geopolitical shifts have led to the relocation of some events from Riyadh to Paris.
This leadership change arrives shortly after Saudi Arabia’s leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts (EA) for an eye-watering $55 billion. Sources within Savvy Games Group have expressed concerns about how these two massive, Saudi-owned gaming entities will be managed under the new structure. This acquisition represents the largest investment in the gaming industry to date and is a landmark deal in the sector.
Speaking to Eurogamer, George Osborn, author of “Power Play” and a keen observer of the games industry, commented on Ward’s tenure: “Objectively speaking, he did a good job given the challenging brief. Regardless of your perspective on the broader political context – as detailed in ‘Power Play’ – Ward appears to have diligently executed his responsibilities.”
“Compared to other Saudi investments in different industries, Savvy struck a sensible balance between strategic acquisitions and building an ecosystem. The acquisition of Scopely was a key success, while making the decision to pull back on investment into Embracer demonstrated discipline. Ultimately, Ward built an impressive portfolio for the Saudi state.”
The Future of Savvy Games Group
Osborn also highlighted Savvy’s unique position within the broader landscape of Saudi Arabian gaming ventures. “It lacks the global recognition and market influence of EA, nor does it possess the economic power of the Public Investment Fund, which has allowed one of its deputy governors to oversee the company,” he explained. “Furthermore, it operates at the center of a costly strategy during a period when the state is tightening its belt.”
“Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if its focus is directed entirely towards the Saudi sector, or if it’s integrated under EA or absorbed back into the PIF as part of Vision 2030. Whatever happens, Savvy has played a crucial role in shaping the gaming landscape we see today, and Ward was instrumental in making that happen.”
Mortal Shell 2 Receives Massive Update
In other news, Mortal Shell 2, available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, has received its largest update yet, just over a week after release. Developer Cold Symmetry was keen to address player feedback and improve various aspects of the game. The patch adds new content and addresses several points of criticism.
One of the most frequent criticisms of Mortal Shell 2 revolved around its economy. Players felt that resources were too scarce, limiting their ability to experiment with different Shells (classes) and weaponry. The update introduces new Tarstones, similar to rings in other Soulslike games, providing passive and active bonuses. New Fragile Tarstones yield a Tarcore, which can be used to upgrade Tarstones when they break after repeated use. Glimpse Stones, previously a rare resource used to increase bond with Shells, now break into Glimpses after defeating enemies, effectively removing the limit on how many Glimpses players could acquire.
The patch also includes a Shell respec item called Mether’s Severance, allowing players to sever their bond with a Shell and refund previously spent Glimpses. Tarstone upgrades now yield more Tarcores, addressing concerns about resource scarcity. Beyond the economy, the update rebalances weapons and Shells, and updates several major bosses with previously missing moves.
The game’s world offers plenty to discover, but was criticized for uneven distribution of Beacons (bonfires). The patch addresses this by adding new Beacons across Fainweald and Mammon. Egon’s Stone is introduced to help players within dungeons, returning them to the entrance upon death instead of the nearest Beacon, preventing Gloom (souls) loss. This stone breaks after a certain number of deaths.
The update also overhauls riposes, high-damage attacks performed after parrying enemies. The damage now scales with enemy health in the late-game and NG+ modes. Invulnerability windows during riposes have been widened and made more consistent.
The Steam patch notes are extensive and worth exploring to see how your specific Shell, playstyle, or weapon has been affected. Despite its flaws, Mortal Shell 2 is a compelling Soulslike action game hybrid that deserves recognition within the genre.
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