Pokémon Go Dev Moves to Reassure Players After $3.5 Billion Sale to Monopoly Go! Company Is Confirmed

Niantic Inc. has finalized a landmark deal, selling its gaming division, which includes popular titles such as Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, to Scopely, a company owned by the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, for a staggering $3.5 billion. As part of the transaction, Niantic is also distributing an additional $350 million in cash, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic's equity holders.

Scopely, in a statement to the press, highlighted the robust performance of Niantic's games, boasting over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active users, and generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2024 alone. Pokémon Go remains the crown jewel of the acquisition, consistently ranking among the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago and attracting over 100 million unique players in 2024.

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 in a blog post. The company reassured players that the beloved games, apps, services, and events will continue to thrive with Scopely's ongoing investment and the dedicated teams behind them.

In a separate blog post, Ed Wu, the chief of Pokémon Go, addressed community concerns about the future of the game post-sale. Wu, a key figure since the game's inception and its massive 2016 launch, expressed his 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.

Wu emphasized the continuity of the Pokémon Go team and their commitment to ongoing development, including Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He highlighted Scopely's approach to empowering game teams to pursue their creative visions independently, which aligns with Niantic's values. "We will be joining a broader organization dedicated to games. I believe that Pokémon Go can continue to thrive with Scopely’s exclusive and long-term focus on game-making," Wu added.

Wu also reassured players that the partnership with The Pokémon Company will continue, emphasizing the shared vision of discovering Pokémon in the real world. He acknowledged the game's evolution and the commitment to enhancing the experience for players.

In addition to the gaming division sale, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., which will allow for accelerated growth. Scopely is investing $50 million in this new venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate other real-world AR games, including Ingress Prime and Peridot.