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 $3.5 billion. An additional $350 million in cash will be distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion.

Scopely, a subsidiary of Savvy Games, announced that Niantic's games business boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), over 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue during 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 stated that its game teams possess robust long-term plans, which will continue under Scopely's guidance. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring the longevity of its games, stating that players can expect continued investment and support from Scopely, maintained by the original development teams.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns regarding the sale. Wu, a key figure in Pokémon Go's development since its 2016 launch, expressed confidence that the partnership with Scopely will benefit the game and its community. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the game's community and team, emphasizing a shared vision for Pokémon Go's continued growth and success for many years to come. He reassured players that the core development team remains intact, committed to ongoing development, including features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events. Wu also praised Scopely's approach to empowering game teams and their commitment to prioritizing long-term success over short-term gains. He further emphasized the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company and the importance of the real-world community in shaping the game's future.

Separately, Niantic announced the formation of Niantic Spatial Inc., a new company focused on its geospatial AI business. Scopely invested $50 million in this venture, which also received $200 million from Niantic. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.