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 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 division boasts 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 consistently top 10 mobile game since its launch, had over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic stated that its game teams have exciting long-term plans and will continue development under Scopely. The company emphasized that this partnership ensures long-term support for its games, allowing them to endure for future generations. Players can expect continued investment and development from the same teams responsible for creating these experiences.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, reassured players about the game's future. 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 community and team, believing Pokémon Go will thrive under Scopely's leadership, continuing its mission of real-world Pokémon discovery and exploration. He emphasized the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, ensuring long-term focus and support. Wu also confirmed the entire Pokémon Go team remains intact, continuing to develop features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events. He highlighted Scopely's approach of empowering game teams, allowing for independent development and creative freedom. Wu emphasized Scopely's long-term vision and commitment to prioritizing player experience over short-term gains, assuring players that the core aspects of Pokémon Go will remain, while evolving to offer an even better experience. He expressed gratitude to the community and expressed his belief in a bright future for Pokémon Go.

Separately, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into Niantic Spatial Inc., receiving $50 million in investment from Scopely and $200 million from Niantic itself. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage Ingress Prime and Peridot.