Niantic Inc. has sold its Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now franchises, along with their development teams, to Scopely, a Saudi-owned gaming company, for a staggering $3.5 billion. This deal includes an additional $350 million in cash, bringing the total value to approximately $3.85 billion for Niantic's equity holders.

Scopely, a subsidiary of the Saudi investment firm Savvy Games, announced that Niantic's games boast over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and over 20 million weekly active users, generating over $1 billion in revenue during 2024. Pokémon Go, a flagship title, consistently ranks among the top 10 mobile games globally, boasting over 100 million unique players in 2024 since its launch nearly a decade ago.

Niantic assures players that its game teams will continue developing their existing roadmaps under Scopely's umbrella. In a blog post, Niantic emphasized its commitment to maintaining the games, apps, services, and events players love, assuring continued investment driven by the original development teams.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, further addressed player concerns in a separate blog post. Wu, a key figure in Pokémon Go's creation and 2016 launch, expressed confidence in Scopely's commitment to the game's long-term success. He highlighted Scopely's admiration for the community and team, emphasizing their shared vision for Pokémon Go's continued growth and evolution. Wu detailed Scopely's commitment to supporting the team, providing resources to maintain the gameplay players enjoy, including ongoing features like Raid Battles, Go Battle League, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He stressed Scopely's approach of empowering game teams, enabling independent development and creative freedom. Wu reassured players that the entire Pokémon Go team remains intact, prioritizing long-term growth over short-term gains, and maintaining their strong partnership with The Pokémon Company.

Niantic is also launching Niantic Spatial Inc., a new company focused on its geospatial AI business, with Scopely investing $50 million and Niantic contributing $200 million. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership and operation of Ingress Prime and Peridot.