Niantic Inc. has officially announced the sale of its flagship titles, including Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with their dedicated development teams, to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, for a hefty sum of $3.5 billion. This deal also includes an additional $350 million in cash distributed to Niantic's equity holders, bringing the total value of the transaction to approximately $3.85 billion.
In a press release, Scopely highlighted the robust performance of Niantic's games, boasting over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and more than 20 million weekly active users, with a revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024. Pokémon Go, in particular, stands out as a perennial top 10 mobile game since its launch nearly a decade ago, attracting over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone.
Niantic emphasized the enduring nature of their games, stating that the development teams have "exciting long-term roadmaps" that will continue to evolve under Scopely's umbrella. In a blog post, Niantic expressed optimism about the future, noting, "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 beloved games, apps, services, and events will continue to be supported by the same teams that have nurtured them.
Scopely has acquired Niantic's entire games business for $3.5 billion. Image credit: Scopely.
Addressing community concerns, Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, penned a reassuring blog post. Wu, who has been integral to the game since its inception, stressed the positive implications of the partnership with Scopely. He shared, "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 also highlighted the continuity of the Pokémon Go team and their commitment to ongoing development, including Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He emphasized Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their creative visions, ensuring that Pokémon Go remains focused on real-world exploration and community engagement.
Niantic also announced the spin-off of its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., with investments of $50 million from Scopely and $200 million from Niantic itself. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate other AR games like Ingress Prime and Peridot, allowing for accelerated growth and innovation in this sector.
In summary, Niantic's strategic sale to Scopely promises continued growth and support for its popular games, while the spin-off of its AI business aims to foster further innovation in geospatial technology.
