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, remains a top 10 mobile game, consistently attracting over 100 million unique players annually.

Niantic assures players that its game teams possess exciting long-term plans and will continue development under Scopely's umbrella. The company emphasizes its commitment to maintaining the games, apps, services, and events players cherish, leveraging the same dedicated teams. A blog post reinforces this message, promising continued investment and support.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, further addressed player concerns in a separate blog post. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the community and team, expressing confidence in Pokémon Go's continued success and growth under Scopely's ownership, extending beyond its second decade. Wu emphasized Scopely's commitment to supporting the team, providing resources to maintain the current gameplay and introduce exciting new features. He reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team remains intact, continuing its work on various aspects of the game, including Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. Wu also praised Scopely's approach to empowering game teams, allowing for independent development and creative freedom. He highlighted Scopely's long-term vision, aligning with Pokémon Go's mission and community focus. He emphasized the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, highlighting their collaborative history and shared vision. Wu concluded by acknowledging the game's ongoing evolution while reassuring players that its core creative process will remain unchanged.

Niantic is also launching Niantic Spatial Inc., a new company focusing on its geospatial AI business. Scopely is a $50 million investor in this venture, which also received $200 million from Niantic. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.