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

Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its gaming division, including popular titles like 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, for a staggering $3.5 billion. An additional $350 million in cash is also being distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion.

In a press release, Scopely highlighted that Niantic's gaming business boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and more than 20 million weekly active players, generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Among these, Pokémon Go stands out as a flagship title, consistently ranking in the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago, with over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic emphasized in a blog post that its game teams have ambitious long-term plans that will continue under Scopely's umbrella. "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations," the company stated, reassuring fans that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and development from the same dedicated teams.

Scopely has acquired Niantic's entire games business for $3.5 billion. Image credit: Scopely.

Addressing concerns from the Pokémon Go community, Ed Wu, the game's chief and an original engineer on its codebase, shared his optimism about the partnership with Scopely. "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 stated.

Wu emphasized that the entire Pokémon Go team will remain intact, continuing to develop the game with features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events such as Pokémon Go Fest. He praised Scopely's approach of allowing game teams to pursue their creative visions autonomously, which aligns with Niantic's values. "Scopely’s status as a private company also means we can prioritize what’s best for you, our Trainers, for the long term," Wu added, underscoring a shared commitment to the game's community and longevity.

Niantic also highlighted its ongoing partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been integral to Pokémon Go's development since its inception. Wu expressed gratitude for their continued collaboration and guidance.

In a separate announcement, Niantic revealed it is spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing an additional $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage other real-world AR games, such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.