Pokémon Go Dev Reassures Players Post $3.5B Sale to Monopoly Go! Firm

Niantic Inc. has officially announced the sale of its gaming division, including popular titles like 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—for a staggering $3.5 billion. In addition to this, Niantic is distributing an extra $350 million in cash to its equity holders, bringing the total deal value to approximately $3.85 billion.

In a statement to the press, Scopely highlighted that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs), more than 20 million weekly active users, and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024 alone. Pokémon Go, a cornerstone of Niantic's portfolio, remains a top 10 mobile game since its launch almost a decade ago, attracting over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic emphasized that their game teams have "exciting long-term roadmaps" that will continue to be pursued under Scopely's ownership. In their blog post, Niantic expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations." They assured players that the beloved games, apps, services, and events will continue to receive Scopely's investment and be developed by the same teams that have been behind these experiences all along.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed community concerns in a separate blog post, underscoring the positive outlook for the game under Scopely's stewardship. Wu, who was instrumental in the game's development from its inception in 2016, shared, "As it's always important to me, and our entire game team, that our community understands and is excited by the long-term vision for this game, I want to share why I believe a partnership with Scopely will be a positive step for all of you and the game's future."

Wu emphasized Scopely's admiration for the community and team, expressing his belief that Pokémon Go will not only continue into its second decade but thrive for many years to come, maintaining its mission of discovering Pokémon in the real world and inspiring exploration. He reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team will remain intact and continue to develop the game, including features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest.

Wu also highlighted Scopely's approach to empowering game teams, allowing them autonomy to pursue their inspired roadmaps and prioritize player experience. He stressed that as part of a broader organization focused on games, Pokémon Go can continue to flourish with Scopely's long-term commitment and resources, enhancing community engagement and real-world exploration.

The ongoing partnership with The Pokémon Company was also a focal point, with Wu expressing gratitude for their collaboration and guidance since the game's inception. He concluded by affirming that while Pokémon Go will continue to evolve, the core development process will remain unchanged, aiming to enhance the player experience.

In other news, Niantic is spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate and scale its operations. Scopely has invested $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing an additional $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage its other AR games, Ingress Prime and Peridot.