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 brings the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic equity holders.
Scopely, a subsidiary of the Saudi investment company 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 consistent top 10 mobile game since its launch, attracted over 100 million unique players in 2024.
Niantic stated its game teams have robust long-term plans, which will continue under Scopely's guidance. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring these games remain successful for years to come, assuring players that the games, apps, services, and events will continue with Scopely's investment and the same dedicated teams.
Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns, highlighting Scopely's admiration for the community and team. He expressed confidence that Pokémon Go will thrive under Scopely's ownership, continuing its mission of real-world Pokémon discovery and community engagement. He emphasized Scopely's commitment to supporting the team and providing resources to maintain and enhance the gameplay experience. The entire Pokémon Go team will remain intact, continuing to develop and add features such as Raid Battles, friends, Go Battle League, Routes, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and Pokémon Go Fest events. Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their own roadmaps aligns with Niantic's vision. Wu also highlighted Scopely's long-term focus and commitment to the game's community. He reassured players that the core experience would remain, while also promising exciting future developments. He expressed gratitude for the community's support over the past nine years and expressed excitement for the future.
Separately, Niantic is launching Niantic Spatial Inc., a new company focused on its geospatial AI business, with Scopely investing $50 million and Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.
