Image credit: Cygames

Mobile gaming giant Scopely has made a "strategic investment" into Studio Auknow, a new company formed by the former director of Umamusame: Pretty Derby.

Announced via a press release from Scopely, this move has been made as part of the company's continued "long-term investment in the Japanese market". This comes relatively soon after Scopely bought up Niantic for $3.5bn in 2025.

Here's the western launch trailer for Umamusame: Pretty Derby Watch on YouTube

Studio AuKnow is home to a spread of experienced mobile game developers, according to this release. Founder Takuma Akitsu was the director of award-winning Umamusame: Pretty Derby, working on the game up until 2024 as the game surged into popularity. However, other staff present have experience on Pokémon Pocket, Onmyoji, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Sonic World Adventure. Studio AuKnow is currently working on a new mobile IP, and is currently recruiting for a variety of roles.

Scopely is owned by the Savvy Games Group, a Saudi Arabian state-owned investment company which has made similar financial players in the games industry over the years. This particular investment is part of a wider push by Saudi Arabia Scopely to invest in the mobile gaming sphere, which should be little surprise considering the surge in mobile gaming's popularity in the MENA region.

Saudi Arabian investment efforts have been criticized by many humanitarian groups due to the country's poor human rights record, with its fiscal outreach into a variety of industries - video games includes - described as an effort to wash its reputation for global tourism and investment.

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