Niantic Inc. has finalized 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 the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, also includes an additional $350 million in cash distribution to Niantic's equity holders, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion.

Scopely highlighted in a press release that Niantic's gaming business boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and more than 20 million weekly active users, with revenues exceeding $1 billion in 2024. Pokémon Go stands out as a key asset, consistently ranking in the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago and attracting over 100 million unique players in 2024.

Niantic emphasized in a blog post that their game teams are set to continue developing exciting long-term roadmaps under Scopely's umbrella. "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations," the post stated. Players were reassured that the games, apps, services, and events they enjoy will continue to be supported by the same dedicated teams, now backed by Scopely's resources.

Scopely has acquired Niantic's entire games business for $3.5 billion. Image credit: Scopely.

In a separate communication, Ed Wu, the head of Pokémon Go, addressed community concerns about the game's future post-acquisition. Wu, who was involved with the game since its inception in 2016, expressed confidence in the partnership with Scopely. "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 stated.

Wu emphasized the continuity of the Pokémon Go team and their ongoing commitment to enhancing the game experience. He highlighted Scopely's approach of empowering game teams to pursue their creative visions autonomously, which aligns well with Niantic's philosophy. "Scopely’s status as a private company also means we can prioritize what’s best for you, our Trainers, for the long term," Wu added, underscoring a shared vision to protect and nurture the unique scale and community of Pokémon Go.

Wu also acknowledged the continued partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been instrumental in shaping the game since its early days. "I won’t say that Pokémon Go will remain the same, because it has always been a work in progress. But how we create and evolve it will remain unchanged, and I hope that we can make the experience even better for all of you," he concluded, expressing gratitude and optimism for the future.

In other developments, 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 new venture, which also receives $200 million from Niantic. Niantic Spatial will continue to manage other AR games such as Ingress Prime and Peridot.