The mobile game publisher that turned beloved franchises into billion-dollar mobile games, then sold the whole thing to Saudi Arabia for $4.9 billion. Scopely's portfolio approach — Marvel for the superhero crowd, Star Trek for the nerds, Scrabble for grandma — diversified risk across fan communities. MONOPOLY GO! became the highest-grossing mobile game of 2023, generating over $2 billion in its first year. The Savvy Games acquisition makes Scopely part of Saudi Arabia's ambitious plan to become a global gaming superpower.
Founded
2011
HQ
Los Angeles, CA
Total Raised
$1B
Founder
Walter Driver, Ankur Bulsara, Eric Futoran, Eytan Elbaz
Status
Acquired by Savvy Games Group (Saudi Arabia) in 2023 for approximately $4.9 billion
Website
www.scopely.comTHE ORIGIN STORY
Walter Driver and his co-founders in Los Angeles saw that mobile gaming was booming but most licensed games were terrible cash grabs. They founded Scopely in 2011 to build high-quality games around popular franchises — treating licensed IP with the same care as original creations.
The first hit was Yahtzee with Buddies, followed by The Walking Dead: Road to Survival. The breakthrough came with Marvel Strike Force, which became one of the highest-grossing RPGs on mobile.
WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO
Mobile game publisher and developer specializing in licensed IP games. Scopely builds free-to-play mobile games based on popular entertainment franchises (Marvel, Star Trek, The Walking Dead, Scrabble) and original IP.
Revenue comes from in-app purchases and advertising. The strategy: take beloved brands and turn them into addictive mobile games with deep monetization.
THE PRODUCTS
Marvel Strike Force (Marvel superhero RPG), Star Trek Fleet Command (open-world Star Trek strategy game), Scrabble GO (digital Scrabble with social features), Stumble Guys (battle royale party game), MONOPOLY GO! (developed by subsidiary — became the highest-grossing mobile game of 2023), and The Walking Dead: Road to Survival.
HOW THEY GREW
Acquisition and franchise expansion. Scopely grew through acquiring game studios (JENGA studio, FoxNext Games from Disney) and building a portfolio of evergreen franchise games.
Each game targets a different fan community — Marvel fans, Star Trek fans, Scrabble players — creating diversified revenue streams. The acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group in 2023 provided capital for further expansion.
THE HARD PART
Licensed IP is expensive and comes with creative constraints. Marvel, Star Trek, and other franchise owners demand approval over everything — character designs, storylines, even monetization features.
License agreements also expire, creating revenue cliffs. Building on someone else's IP means you never fully own your most valuable asset.
Competition in mobile gaming is intense, with thousands of new games launching every week.
MONEY TRAIL
Series B
2014 · Led by Revolution Growth, TSG Consumer Partners
$35M raised
Series D
2020 · Led by Wellington Management, NewView Capital
$200M raised
Acquisition
2023 · Led by Acquired by Savvy Games Group
$4.9B raised
WHO BACKED THEM
Savvy Games Group (acquirer), NewView Capital, Wellington Management, TSG Consumer Partners, and Revolution Growth backed Scopely.
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