Scopely Buys Niantic’s Game Division – Pokémon GO Gets a New Owner

Niantic's gaming division is officially under new management. Scopely, the mobile gaming giant behind Monopoly GO has acquired Niantic’s game portfolio, including Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, in a massive $3.5 billion deal.

For those unfamiliar, Scopely is a U.S.-based company, but it's owned by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, a major player in the gaming investment space. The acquisition means Scopely now owns some of the biggest augmented reality (AR) games ever made. Alongside these games, Scopely also takes control of Niantic’s related services like Campfire (a social app for players) and Wayfarer (a system for submitting real-world locations for use in AR games).

This is a game-changing move – literally. Pokémon GO alone still brings in over $1 billion annually, and with more than 30 million monthly active players across Niantic’s titles, Scopely just made a huge bet on AR gaming.

So, what does this mean for players? According to Scopely, all of Niantic’s game developers and leadership team will stay on board. Pokémon GO’s Chief, Ed Wu, reassured players, stating that Scopely’s approach allows game teams to work autonomously and focus on their own creative vision. That sounds nice on paper, but considering Scopely’s reputation for aggressive monetization (just ask players of Marvel Strike Force or Star Trek Fleet Command), many Pokémon GO fans are already worried about the future of their beloved game.

Social media has been buzzing with concerns that Scopely could introduce more aggressive paywalls, overpriced microtransactions, or gameplay mechanics that push spending even harder. Some fans are even threatening to quit if Pokémon GO adopts the same monetization tactics seen in Monopoly GO and Stumble Guys.

On the flip side, there’s potential for good news. Scopely has deep pockets and a strong track record of sustaining long-term live-service games. If handled well, this could mean more frequent updates, better events, and stronger in-game support for Pokémon GO and the other acquired titles.

Image Credit: Scopely Web Site

Meanwhile, Niantic isn’t disappearing entirely. The company is spinning off its geospatial tech platform into a new business, Niantic Spatial, which will continue to work on AR innovations. They’re holding onto Ingress Prime and Peridot, so those games will remain under Niantic’s control.

With all these changes, the biggest question remains: Can Scopely manage Pokémon GO without alienating its player base? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure - this acquisition is one of the biggest shifts in mobile gaming history.