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 will be distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion.

Scopely, a subsidiary of Savvy Games, announced that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), over 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, a consistent top 10 mobile game since its launch, attracted over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic stated its game teams will continue developing their existing roadmaps under Scopely's ownership, ensuring the long-term support needed to maintain these games' popularity. Players can expect continued investment and the same dedicated teams behind the experiences they enjoy.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns, emphasizing Scopely's admiration for the community and team. He expressed confidence that Pokémon Go will thrive under Scopely's ownership, continuing its mission of real-world Pokémon discovery and community engagement. The entire Pokémon Go team remains intact, continuing its work on features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events. Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to independently develop aligns with Niantic's vision. Wu highlighted Scopely's long-term focus and commitment to prioritizing the player experience. He reassured players that the core gameplay will remain, with continued investment in community initiatives. The partnership with The Pokémon Company will also continue. While acknowledging ongoing evolution, Wu emphasized the commitment to enhancing the Pokémon Go experience.

Separately, Niantic is launching Niantic Spatial Inc., a new company focused on its geospatial AI business, with Scopely investing $50 million and Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.