Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its games division, including popular titles like Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with their development teams, to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi investment firm Savvy Games. The deal is valued at $3.5 billion, with an additional $350 million in cash being distributed to Niantic equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.
According to a press release from Scopely, Niantic's games have over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and more than 20 million weekly active users, generating over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go, in particular, remains a powerhouse, consistently ranking in the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago, and boasting over 100 million unique players in 2024.
Niantic emphasized that its game teams are equipped with exciting long-term roadmaps and will continue their work under Scopely. 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." They reassured players that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to receive investment and be managed by the same dedicated teams.
Scopely has acquired Niantic's entire games business for $3.5 billion. Image credit: Scopely.
In a separate statement, Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed concerns from the community about the game's future post-sale. Wu, who was part of the original engineering team for Pokémon Go and present at its monumental 2016 launch, expressed confidence in the partnership with Scopely. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the Pokémon Go community and team, stating, "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 emphasized the continuity of the Pokémon Go team, noting that the same developers who have been guiding the game will continue their work. He detailed ongoing features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest, which will continue to evolve. Wu also praised Scopely's approach of allowing game teams to pursue their roadmaps independently, which aligns well with Niantic's vision.
Wu reiterated the importance of the long-term partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been instrumental in the game's development from the beginning. He expressed gratitude for their guidance and confirmed that this collaboration would continue. Wu concluded by affirming his commitment to enhancing the Pokémon Go experience, stating, "I have so much gratitude for the incredible joy of serving hundreds of millions of Trainers in our real-world community for the past nine years, and I truly believe 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 its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this venture, with Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage other real-world AR games, such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.
