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

Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its flagship games, including Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with their dedicated development teams, to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi investment firm Savvy Games. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, also includes an additional $350 million in cash from Niantic, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic's equity holders.

In a press release, Scopely highlighted the robust player base of Niantic's games, boasting over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active users, and a revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024. Among these, Pokémon Go stands out as a perennial top 10 mobile game, with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone.

Niantic emphasized that the game teams have ambitious long-term plans, which they will continue to pursue under Scopely's umbrella. "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations," Niantic stated on their blog.

Players can expect continuity in the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy, as Niantic reassured that the same teams will continue to drive these experiences with Scopely's support.

In a separate blog post, Ed Wu, the chief of Pokémon Go, addressed the community's concerns about the game's future post-acquisition. Wu, who was instrumental in the game's 2016 launch, expressed confidence in 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.

He emphasized the continuity of the game's development, with the entire Pokémon Go team remaining intact. "The same people who have been guiding and building the game for years will continue doing what we love," Wu added, highlighting ongoing developments like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest.

Wu also praised Scopely's approach to game development, noting their support for autonomous game teams to pursue their roadmaps. He stressed the importance of long-term focus over short-term gains, a philosophy shared with Scopely's leadership. "With Scopely’s full commitment, experience, and resources, we’re going to make Pokémon Go the very best it can be," Wu concluded, underscoring the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company and the investment in community leaders and ambassadors.

Additionally, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate Ingress Prime and Peridot.