Niantic Inc. has 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, which is owned by the Saudi investment company Savvy Games. The deal is valued at $3.5 billion, with an additional $350 million in cash being distributed to Niantic's equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.
In a statement to the press, Scopely highlighted the strength of Niantic's games business, noting that it 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 standout success, consistently ranking among the top 10 mobile games annually since its launch nearly a decade ago, with over 100 million unique players in 2024.
Niantic emphasized that the game teams have "exciting long-term roadmaps" that will continue to be developed under Scopely's umbrella. In a blog post, Niantic expressed confidence that this partnership will provide the long-term support necessary to ensure their games remain enduring favorites for future generations. They assured players that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and be managed by the same dedicated teams.
Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed player concerns in a separate blog post. As a key figure since the game's inception and massive 2016 launch, Wu shared his optimism about the future under Scopely's stewardship. He emphasized Scopely's admiration for the Pokémon Go community and their shared vision of the game thriving into its second decade and beyond, while continuing to inspire real-world exploration and discovery.
Wu reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team would remain intact, continuing to develop the game with the same passion and dedication. He highlighted ongoing features like Raid Battles, the Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest, expressing enthusiasm for future developments. Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their inspired roadmaps was particularly appealing to Niantic, fostering an environment where creativity and player experience are prioritized.
As part of a broader organization focused on games, Wu believes Pokémon Go will benefit from Scopely's exclusive dedication to game development. He stressed that as a private company, Scopely can prioritize long-term goals over short-term gains, aligning with Pokémon Go's mission to foster a real-world community. Wu also acknowledged the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been instrumental in shaping the game since its inception.
While acknowledging that Pokémon Go will continue to evolve, Wu assured that the core approach to its development will remain unchanged, aiming to enhance the experience for players. He expressed deep gratitude for serving the game's community for nearly a decade and remains confident that the best is yet to come.
Additionally, Niantic announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate and scale its operations. Scopely is investing $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate other real-world AR games, such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.
