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 is part of the deal, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic equity holders.

Scopely, a subsidiary of Savvy Games, announced that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), over 20 million weekly active players, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, a standout performer, consistently ranks among the top 10 mobile games globally and attracted over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic stated its game teams possess exciting long-term plans that will continue under Scopely's guidance. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring these games remain enduring experiences for future generations, promising continued investment and the retention of the original development teams. Players can expect uninterrupted access to the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns regarding the sale. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the community and team, expressing confidence in Pokémon Go's continued success under Scopely's ownership, not just for a second decade, but for many years to come. He emphasized Scopely's commitment to supporting the existing team and providing resources to maintain the current gameplay experience. The Pokémon Go team will remain intact, continuing to develop new features such as Raid Battles, friends, Go Battle League, Routes, Dynamax/Gigantamax, and Pokémon Go Fest events. Wu stressed Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their own roadmaps, prioritizing player experience. He also highlighted the long-term partnership with The Pokémon Company, assuring continued collaboration. Wu concluded by stating that while Pokémon Go will continue to evolve, the core creative process and commitment to the community will remain unchanged.

Separately, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into Niantic Spatial Inc., attracting a $50 million investment from Scopely and $200 million from Niantic itself. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.