Niantic Sells Gaming Division—including Pokémon GO and Pikmin Bloom—to Scopely for $3.5 Billion

In a landmark move for the mobile gaming industry, Niantic—the visionary developer behind Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now—has sold its entire gaming division to Scopely for an impressive $3.5 billion.

The transaction, which also sees the community-oriented apps Campfire and Wayfarer change hands, marks one of the most significant acquisitions in the mobile market to date. Niantic’s decision comes after weeks of industry speculation and follows a period of organizational challenges for the San Francisco-based company.

In a formal announcement, Niantic stated it had "reached an agreement" with California mobile games leader Scopely, underscoring the substantial deal, which also includes an additional $350 million in cash distributed as part of the agreement. Scopely, well-known for its success with titles like Star Trek Fleet Command, Marvel Strike Force, and the record-breaking Monopoly Go!, is owned by Savvy Games Group.

This Saudi-based investment firm is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which is also known for holding a notable 7.5% share in Nintendo, reinforcing their growing influence in global gaming. In its statement, Niantic commended Scopely for their "focus on building and operating incredible live services," highlighting the company's commitment to nurturing communities and collaborating with globally recognized brands.

Additionally, Niantic confirmed it is spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new entity: Niantic Spatial Inc., marking a shift toward non-gaming technological innovation. Head of Pokémon GO, Ed Wu, addressed the future of the renowned augmented reality app, stating that he is confident Pokémon GO will "continue to thrive as part of Scopely, reaching into its second decade and beyond." Wu assured fans that the current game development team will remain intact, allowing them to continue prioritizing player experience and long-term innovation for their community of Trainers. Scopely co-CEOs Javier Ferreira and Walter Driver also weighed in, promising that players "can expect that these games, apps, and events will stay true to the experiences they know and love." They emphasized Scopely’s support for Niantic’s teams, pledging to provide the resources necessary to realize their ambitious development roadmaps while maintaining the integrity of flagship experiences like Pokémon GO. The acquisition includes all three of Niantic’s major intellectual property partnerships, yet Pokémon GO clearly stands out as the centerpiece.

Launched in 2016 and lauded as one of the largest mobile games in the world, it has boasted up to 147 million monthly active users at its peak and surpassed $6 billion in revenue by 2020. Despite this success, Niantic faced significant setbacks in 2023, which included the closure of its Los Angeles studio, the cancellation of two major projects, and the layoff of over 230 employees. With Scopely at the helm and a renewed infusion of capital and support, the future of Niantic’s best-known games looks to be in capable hands as they continue to shape the landscape of mobile and augmented reality gaming for years to come.

Pokémon Monster Hunter Niantic Scopely Pokémon GO Monster Hunter Now Pikmin Bloom Pikmin