Pokémon Go Dev Reassures Players Post $3.5B Sale to Monopoly Go! Company

Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its gaming division, including popular titles such as Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with their development teams, to Scopely, a company owned by the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, also includes an additional $350 million in cash distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total transaction value to approximately $3.85 billion.

In a press release, Scopely highlighted the strength of Niantic's gaming portfolio, which boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, in particular, stands out as a flagship title, maintaining its position as a top 10 mobile game since its launch nearly a decade ago, with over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic emphasized that its game development teams have robust long-term plans, which will be continued and enhanced under Scopely's ownership. The company stated in a blog post, "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations." They assured players that the games, apps, services, and events will continue to receive investment and be managed by the same dedicated teams.

In a separate blog post, Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed community concerns about the game's future post-acquisition. Wu, who has been integral to the game since its inception in 2016, expressed optimism about the partnership with Scopely. He stated, "Scopely expressed a deep admiration for this community and our team. I have every belief Pokémon GO will further flourish as part of Scopely, not only into its second decade, but for many more years to come, under the mission of discovering Pokémon in the real world and inspiring people to explore together."

Wu reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team would remain intact and continue to develop the game, supported by Scopely's resources. He highlighted ongoing features and events like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and Pokémon Go Fest, which will continue to evolve. Wu also emphasized Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their creative visions autonomously, which aligns well with Niantic's goals.

Furthermore, Wu noted the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been crucial in shaping Pokémon Go since its early days. He expressed gratitude for their collaboration and commitment to the shared vision of real-world Pokémon discovery.

Wu concluded by acknowledging the dynamic nature of Pokémon Go, stating, "I won’t say that Pokémon Go will remain the same, because it has always been a work in progress. But how we create and evolve it will remain unchanged, and I hope that we can make the experience even better for all of you."

In related news, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this new venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage other real-world AR games, such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.