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 flagship title, 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 development plans, which will continue under Scopely's ownership. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring these games remain enduring experiences for future generations. Players can expect continued investment and support, maintained by the original development teams.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns regarding the sale. He expressed confidence that the partnership with Scopely will positively impact the game's future, highlighting Scopely's admiration for the community and development team. Wu, a key figure in Pokémon Go's creation and 2016 launch, believes the game will thrive under Scopely's stewardship for many years to come, continuing its focus on real-world Pokémon discovery and community engagement.

Wu emphasized the continued collaboration with The Pokémon Company and the retention of the entire Pokémon Go team. He highlighted Scopely's empowering approach, allowing game teams autonomy in pursuing their creative visions and prioritizing player experience. He stressed Scopely's long-term focus and commitment to investing in the game's continued growth, including live events, community programs, and new features. The partnership, he assured players, will maintain the core elements of Pokémon Go while striving for continued improvement. He also highlighted the ongoing importance of the real-world community in shaping the game's future.

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