Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its gaming 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 Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, for $3.5 billion. As part of the deal, Niantic will also distribute an additional $350 million in cash to its equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.
In a press release, Scopely highlighted the strength of Niantic's games, noting that the portfolio boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, in particular, remains a powerhouse, consistently ranking among the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago, with over 100 million unique players in 2024.
Niantic emphasized that its game teams have ambitious long-term plans that will continue under Scopely's umbrella. In a blog post, Niantic stated, "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations." The company reassured players that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and be managed by the same dedicated teams.
In a separate blog post, Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed the community's concerns about the game's future. Wu, who was an original engineer on the Pokémon Go codebase and instrumental in its 2016 launch, expressed optimism about the partnership with Scopely. He stated, "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 highlighted the continuity of the Pokémon Go team and their ongoing projects, such as Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He emphasized Scopely's approach to empowering game teams to pursue their creative visions, which aligns well with Niantic's philosophy. Wu also noted that Scopely's status as a private company allows for a long-term focus on what's best for the players, rather than short-term gains.
The partnership with The Pokémon Company will continue as it has for the past decade, with Wu expressing gratitude for their collaboration and shared vision. He reassured the community that while Pokémon Go will continue to evolve, the core approach to its development and enhancement will remain unchanged.
In addition to the gaming division sale, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate Ingress Prime and Peridot, maintaining Niantic's presence in the real-world AR gaming space.
