Saudi Arabia-owned Scopely continues its mobile investment spree with Umamusame: Pretty Derby director's new company Studio AuKnow
Horsing around. Image credit: CygamesMobile gaming giant Scopely has made a "strategic investment" into Studio Auknow, a new company formed by the former director of Umamusame: Pretty Derby. Announcedvia a. . .
Horsing around. Image credit: CygamesMobile gaming giant Scopely has made a "strategic investment" into Studio Auknow, a new company formed by the former director of Umamusame: Pretty Derby. Announcedvia 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 soonafter Scopely bought up Niantic for $3. 5bn in 2025. Here's the western launch trailer for Umamusame: Pretty DerbyWatch on YouTubeStudio 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 onPokémon 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 thesurge in mobile gaming's popularity in the MENA region. Saudi Arabian investment efforts have been criticized by many humanitarian groups due to the country'spoor human rights record, with its fiscal outreach into a variety of industries - video games includes - described asan effort to wash its reputation for global tourism and investment. Mentioned in this article