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 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) and over 20 million weekly active users, generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, a consistent top 10 mobile game since its launch, had over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic stated its game teams will continue developing "exciting long-term roadmaps" under Scopely's ownership, ensuring the games' longevity. The company emphasized that players can expect continued investment and support, with the same teams responsible for creating these experiences remaining in place.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns in a separate blog post, assuring the community that the partnership with Scopely will positively impact the game's future. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the community and team, expressing confidence in Pokémon Go's continued success and growth for many years to come. Wu emphasized the preservation of the core Pokémon Go experience, including ongoing development of features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events. He also stressed Scopely's commitment to empowering game teams and prioritizing long-term growth over short-term gains. The existing Pokémon Go team will remain intact, and the partnership with The Pokémon Company will continue.

Niantic is also 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.