Scopely backs Studio AuKnow, new studio from Umamusume: Pretty Derby director

Scopely has made a strategic investment in Studio AuKnow, a freshly formed mobile game studio led by Takuma Akitsu — the director behind Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The announcement came via an official press release, with Scopely framing the move as part of its ongoing long-term commitment to the Japanese market.

Akitsu directed Umamusume: Pretty Derby up until 2024, steering the game through its surge in popularity and earning it award recognition along the way. Studio AuKnow's team also brings experience from Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, Onmyoji, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Sonic World Adventure. The studio is currently developing a new mobile IP and is actively hiring across multiple roles.

Scopely is owned by Savvy Games Group, a Saudi Arabian state-owned investment vehicle. The Umamusume studio deal follows Scopely's $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic in 2025 and fits a broader pattern of Saudi-backed capital flowing into mobile gaming, a sector seeing strong growth in the MENA region. Saudi Arabia's expanding presence in the games industry has drawn criticism from humanitarian organizations, who argue the investments are part of a wider effort to rehabilitate the country's international reputation — a practice often called sportswashing, extended here into the entertainment and tech sectors.

Studio AuKnow has not announced a title or release window for its new IP yet. Given the pedigree of the team and Scopely's distribution muscle, the project will be one to watch in the mobile space.