Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its games 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. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, also includes an additional $350 million in cash being distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.
Scopely highlighted that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active players, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, in particular, stands out as a perennial top 10 mobile game, with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone.
Niantic emphasized that its game development teams have exciting long-term plans, which will continue to be pursued under Scopely's ownership. In a blog post, Niantic expressed confidence that this partnership will ensure the longevity of their games as "forever games" that will endure for future generations. They reassured players that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and support from the same dedicated teams.
In a separate statement, Ed Wu, the chief of Pokémon Go, addressed player concerns about the game's future post-sale. Wu, who was instrumental in the game's development from its inception in 2016, reassured the community about the positive aspects of the partnership with Scopely. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the Pokémon Go community and their commitment to the game's mission of discovering Pokémon in the real world and inspiring exploration.
Wu emphasized the continuation of the long-standing partnership with The Pokémon Company and stressed that the entire Pokémon Go team would remain intact. He detailed ongoing efforts to enhance the game, mentioning additions like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. Wu expressed confidence in Scopely's approach, which allows game teams autonomy to pursue their roadmaps and prioritize player experience.
As part of the broader organization focused on game development, Wu believes that Pokémon Go will thrive under Scopely's long-term focus. He reiterated the importance of not sacrificing the game's mission for short-term gains and underscored the commitment to maintaining the real-world community that has made Pokémon Go special.
Wu concluded with gratitude for serving the community and optimism about the game's future, promising continued evolution and enhancement of the player experience while maintaining the core mission of real-world Pokémon discovery.
In addition to the games sale, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc., with Scopely investing $50 million and Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate other AR games such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
