Scopely has recently made headlines with its acquisition of Niantic, a move that brings some of the biggest names in augmented reality gaming under its umbrella. This business deal, valued at $3.5 billion, includes popular titles like Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now.
Pokémon GO, despite being nearly a decade old, continues to attract massive player numbers, with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone. It has consistently ranked in the top 10 mobile games every year since its launch in 2016.
Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo in 2021, will now be managed by Scopely. This game encourages players to plant virtual flowers while walking, and it saw a significant surge in popularity in 2024. Players logged an impressive 3.94 trillion steps last year, and in-person events in Japan, the U.S., and Germany drew thousands of enthusiastic fans.
Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's latest release since September 2023, has already achieved over 15 million downloads. Along with the games, Niantic's development teams and companion apps such as Campfire and Wayfarer are also transitioning to Scopely. Campfire facilitates real-world gameplay connections, while Wayfarer helps map new locations for Niantic games. In 2024, over six million players used Campfire to attend in-person events, and Wayfarer has added more than 11.5 million new location points since its launch in 2019.
What Does the Scopely and Niantic Deal Mean for Players?
For players, the immediate impact of this acquisition is minimal. Scopely's existing portfolio, which includes successful titles like MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, suggests that Niantic's games will continue to thrive.
Scopely has committed to providing additional resources to the development team and introducing new AR experiences to Niantic's games. It will be exciting to see how these enhancements are rolled out in the near future.
On a related note, don't miss out on Pokémon GO's Festival of Colors, available on the Google Play Store.
Before you go, be sure to catch up on our latest news about KartRider Rush+ launching Season 31, featuring Journey to the West.
