Pokémon Go Dev Assures Players Post $3.5B Sale to Monopoly Go! Company

Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its gaming division, including popular titles such as Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with their development teams, to Scopely, a company owned by the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, for $3.5 billion. As part of this transaction, an additional $350 million in cash from Niantic will be distributed among its equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.

In a statement to the press, Scopely highlighted that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and more than 20 million weekly active players, generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go stands out as a flagship title, maintaining its position among the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago, with over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic expressed optimism about the future, stating that the game teams have "exciting long-term roadmaps" and will continue their work under Scopely. "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations," Niantic said in a blog post. They reassured players that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and support from the same teams that have always been behind these experiences.

Scopely has acquired Niantic's entire games business for $3.5 billion. Image credit: Scopely.

In a separate blog post, Pokémon Go chief Ed Wu addressed community concerns about the game's future post-sale. Wu, who was an original engineer on the Pokémon Go codebase and present during its monumental 2016 launch, emphasized the positive aspects of the partnership with Scopely. "Scopely expressed a deep admiration for this community and our team. I have every belief Pokémon Go will further flourish as part of Scopely, not only into its second decade, but for many more years to come, under the mission of discovering Pokémon in the real world and inspiring people to explore together," Wu stated.

Wu assured players that the partnership, combined with the ongoing collaboration with The Pokémon Company, will allow for a sustained focus on creating the best Pokémon Go experience. He highlighted Scopely's commitment to supporting the team and providing resources to continue delivering the beloved gameplay. "The entire Pokémon Go team is staying together through this partnership. The same people who have been guiding and building the game for years will continue doing what we love," Wu added.

Wu also praised Scopely's approach to game development, noting that they empower their game teams to pursue their own roadmaps and focus on what they believe is best for the player experience. "Scopely’s status as a private company also means we can prioritize what’s best for you, our Trainers, for the long term," he explained.

Wu emphasized the importance of the real-world community and Scopely's commitment to investing in community leaders and ambassadors who bring millions of Trainers together. "The real-world community that loves Pokémon Go will remain our guiding light in all we do," he said.

He also acknowledged the ongoing partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been integral to the game's development since the very first Poké Ball throw. "I am incredibly grateful for their daily wisdom, guidance, and careful stewardship of our shared vision for discovering Pokémon in the real world," Wu remarked.

While Wu acknowledged that Pokémon Go will continue to evolve, he reassured players that the core approach to creating and enhancing the game will remain the same. "I have so much gratitude for the incredible joy of serving hundreds of millions of Trainers in our real-world community for the past nine years, and I truly believe the best is yet to come," he concluded.

Additionally, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate and scale its operations. Scopely is investing $50 million in this new venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to own and operate other real-world AR games, including Ingress Prime and Peridot.