Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its gaming division, including Pokémon Go, to Saudi Arabia-owned mobile game developer Scopely for $3.5 billion. The deal, which includes Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, comes as Niantic struggles to replicate the success of Pokémon Go, its flagship augmented reality title. An additional $350 million in cash from Niantic is being distributed as part of the transaction, bringing the total deal value to $3.85 billion.
Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, will acquire Niantic's game development teams, which collectively serve over 30 million monthly active players and generated $1 billion in revenue in 2024. "Niantic games have always been a bridge to connect people and inspire exploration, and I am confident they will continue to do both as part of Scopely," said Niantic CEO John Hanke. "I firmly believe this partnership is great for our players and is the best way to ensure that our games have the long-term support and investment needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations."
The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. Once finalized, Scopely will assume ownership of Pokémon Go's companion apps, Campfire and Wayfarer, while Niantic will retain control of its AR gaming titles Ingress Prime and Peridot under a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc. Scopely is a $50 million investor in this spinoff, alongside Niantic's $200 million contribution.
Pokémon Go, which launched in 2016 and became a global phenomenon, has remained a top mobile game for nearly a decade, with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone. However, the game's popularity suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Niantic to cancel multiple projects and lay off more than 300 employees between 2022 and 2023.
The sale marks Saudi Arabia's latest expansion into the gaming industry through its Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has acquired stakes in Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, and Electronic Arts. In 2023, PIF-backed Savvy Games acquired Monopoly Go! developer Scopely for $4.9 billion, setting the stage for this latest transaction.
To address player concerns over the game's future, Pokémon Go chief Ed Wu released a statement reaffirming the team's commitment to maintaining the game's vision. "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," Wu wrote. "Scopely's full commitment, experience, and resources will help us make Pokémon Go the very best it can be."
Wu assured players that the game's existing development team would remain intact and that the company would continue to invest in in-game events, new features, and real-world experiences such as Pokémon Go Fest. "We believe that prioritizing short-term gains at the expense of our long-term mission would be counterproductive and self-defeating," he said. "Every interaction I've had with Scopely leaders has reinforced that we are in total agreement that the scale, longevity, and most of all, real-world community of Pokémon Go make it truly special."
Scopely said in a statement that it was committed to supporting Niantic's game teams and providing the resources necessary to expand their vision. "Our new partnership, along with our decade-long partnership with The Pokémon Company, means we can maintain this long-term focus," Wu added. "The entire Pokémon Go team is staying together through this partnership."
