In a significant move within the gaming industry, Niantic, the developer behind the massive game Pokémon GO, has agreed to sell its gaming division to Scopely, a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, for $3.5 billion. This transaction includes popular titles such as Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now, as well as associated apps like Campfire and Wayfarer.
Since its launch in 2016, Pokémon GO has revolutionized mobile gaming by integrating augmented reality with real-world exploration, amassing over $8 billion in revenue and engaging players across more than 190 countries. The acquisition positions Scopely to inherit a robust portfolio boasting over 30 million active monthly users and generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. This move aligns with Scopely’s strategy to expand its footprint in the mobile gaming sector by integrating established titles with dedicated player communities.
Concurrently, Niantic plans to pivot its focus towards advancing augmented reality technologies by spinning off its geospatial AI business into a new entity, Niantic Spatial Inc. This shift underscores Niantic’s commitment to pioneering innovations in AR, potentially reshaping how users interact with digital and physical environments.
The transaction is a surprise, a property like Pokémon Go is not something that comes up for sale every day, and even though Scopely has a good reputation when it comes to maintaining its games, it remains to be seen how the community will view this change.
