Niantic Inc. has sold its Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now franchises, along with their development teams, to Scopely, a Saudi-owned gaming company, for $3.5 billion. An additional $350 million in cash brings the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic equity holders.
Scopely, a subsidiary of Savvy Games, highlighted the acquired games' impressive performance: over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), over 20 million weekly active users, and over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, a consistently top 10 mobile game since its launch, boasts over 100 million unique players in 2024.
Niantic emphasized that its game teams will continue building upon existing long-term roadmaps under Scopely's ownership. The company reassured players that their games, apps, services, and events will continue to receive investment and support from the same teams responsible for their creation. Niantic stated the partnership ensures long-term support, enabling the games to endure for future generations.
Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, further addressed player concerns, emphasizing Scopely's admiration for the community and team. He expressed confidence that Pokémon Go will continue to thrive under Scopely's ownership, not only into its second decade but for many years to come. Wu highlighted Scopely's commitment to supporting the team, providing resources to maintain the current gameplay experience, and allowing the team autonomy in developing future content. He reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team remains intact and committed to ongoing development, including features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He also emphasized the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company. Wu concluded by acknowledging that while the game will continue to evolve, the core creative vision and player experience remain central to the development process.
Separately, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into Niantic Spatial Inc., receiving $50 million in investment from Scopely and $200 million from Niantic itself. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.
