Niantic Inc. has announced the sale of its popular mobile games, including 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, for $3.5 billion. In addition to this sum, Niantic is distributing $350 million in cash to its equity holders, bringing the total value of the transaction to approximately $3.85 billion.

In a press statement, Scopely highlighted that the Niantic games business currently boasts over 30 million monthly active users (MAUs) and 20 million weekly active users, with revenues exceeding $1 billion in 2024. Pokémon Go stands out as the flagship title, consistently ranking among the top 10 mobile games since its launch nearly a decade ago, and attracting over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone.

Niantic expressed optimism about the future, noting that their game teams have "exciting long-term roadmaps" that will continue to be pursued under Scopely's ownership. "This partnership ensures that our games have the long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations," Niantic stated in a blog post. They emphasized that players can expect continued investment and development from the same dedicated teams that have been crafting these experiences.

Pokémon Go's chief, Ed Wu, addressed community concerns about the game's future in a separate blog post. As an original engineer on the Pokémon Go codebase and a key figure since its massive 2016 launch, Wu reassured players of the positive impact of partnering with Scopely. "Scopely expressed a deep admiration for this community and our team," Wu said, adding his belief that Pokémon Go will flourish under Scopely's guidance, maintaining its mission of real-world Pokémon discovery and inspiring exploration.

Wu highlighted that the entire Pokémon Go team will remain intact, continuing to develop features such as Raid Battles, Go Battle League, Routes, and live events like Pokémon Go Fest. He emphasized Scopely's approach to empowering game teams to pursue their own roadmaps, which aligns well with Niantic's vision. "Scopely's status as a private company also means we can prioritize what’s best for you, our Trainers, for the long term," Wu noted, underscoring a shared commitment to the game's scale, longevity, and community.

With Scopely's resources and dedication, Wu promised to enhance Pokémon Go with large-scale battles at live events and new ways for players to connect. He reaffirmed the importance of the real-world community, which will continue to guide the game's development. Wu also acknowledged the ongoing partnership with The Pokémon Company, which has been crucial in shaping the game's evolution since its inception.

Looking forward, Wu expressed gratitude for serving the Pokémon Go community and confidence that the best is yet to come, despite acknowledging that the game will continue to evolve.

In other news, Niantic is spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc., to accelerate its growth. Scopely has invested $50 million in this new venture, with Niantic contributing an additional $200 million. Niantic Spatial will continue to operate Ingress Prime and Peridot, maintaining its focus on real-world augmented reality experiences.