Pokémon Go Dev Moves to Reassure Players After $3.5 Billion Sale to Monopoly Go! Company Is Confirmed

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 a staggering $3.5 billion. This deal includes an additional $350 million in cash, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic equity holders.

Scopely, a subsidiary of the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, announced that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), over 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, a flagship title, consistently ranks among the top 10 mobile games globally and attracted over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic assures players that its game teams possess exciting long-term plans and will continue development under Scopely's umbrella. The company stated in a blog post that this partnership ensures long-term support, allowing their games to endure for future generations. Players can expect continued investment and the same teams behind their favorite experiences.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns in a separate blog post, emphasizing the positive impact of the Scopely partnership. Wu, a key figure in Pokémon Go's development since its 2016 launch, highlighted Scopely's admiration for the community and team. He expressed confidence that Pokémon Go will thrive under Scopely's leadership, extending its success well into its second decade and beyond. He stressed Scopely's commitment to supporting the team, providing resources to maintain the quality of gameplay, and allowing the team to independently develop and creatively thrive. The entire Pokémon Go team will remain intact, continuing to deliver updates, including Raid Battles, Friends, Go Battle League, Routes, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and Pokémon Go Fest events. Wu underscored Scopely's long-term vision, prioritizing player experience over short-term gains. He also reassured players of the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, emphasizing their shared vision for the game. While acknowledging that the game will continue to evolve, Wu assured players that the core creative process will remain unchanged.

Niantic is also spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., with Scopely investing $50 million alongside Niantic's own $200 million investment. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.