Pokémon GO developer Niantic has been sold to mobile gaming developer Scopely for $3.5B. Niantic is the company behind Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, Augmented Reality (AR) gaming hits that require players to go out and interact with the world both physically and virtually. The developer is also behind several non-game programs, including Campfire and Wayfarer.

Niantic’s games assets will be folded into Scopely, and Niantic is spinning off its geospatial platform into a new company called Niantic Spatial, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. Scopely is the mobile gaming giant behind several hit titles centered around well-known IPs, including Monopoly Go!, Star Trek Fleet Command, and Marvel Strike Force. As of 2024, Games Industry reports that Scopely is the second-largest mobile game developer by revenue in the world, sured only by Tencent. The acquisition adds three new IPs under the giant's belt, as well as any future titles that Niantic works on.

What Scopely Buying Niantic Means

The Deal May Make Scopely The Most Lucrative Mobile Company

Scopely's acquisition of Niantic means an additional source of revenue for the industry behemoth. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Niantic's gaming arm has over 30 million active monthly players and earned more than $1 billion in 2024, thanks to its hit games from well-known franchises. Niantic is best known for its work on Pokémon GO, which is still going strong after nearly a decade, earning $544 million in 2024 according to Statista.

The company has several other games in its pocket. Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now might not match Pokémon GO's star power, but they're no small fries, either. A collaboration with Monster Hunter Wilds earlier this month, earned over $251.7 million in its just its first year, according to a different report from Pocket Gamer. The Scopely deal with Niantic may just push Scopely to the top of the mobile revenue earning ladder in the coming year.

A Major Deal For Gaming & For Players

It's Still Unclear How This Deal Will Affect Players

Although the acquisition is a huge step forward for both companies, Ed Wu, senior VP of Pokémon Go assures players that they'll remain unaffected. According to Wu, Scopely's goal of "cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play" aligns with Niantic's philosophy. Wu states:

“Our mission remains clear: to inspire people to discover Pokémon in the real world together... Most importantly, we’ll remain focused on the excitement and experience of discovering Pokémon in the real world.”

As part of the deal, the branch of Niantic that's in charge of augmented reality games will be rebranded as Niantic Spatial, a geospatial AI company that will be helmed by Niantic's founder, John Hanke, who has also worked with other geospacial projects including Google Earth. Niantic Spatial will continue to be in charge of the company's lesser-known titles, Ingress Prime and Peridot.

Scopely plans to continue providing all the same services as Niantic did to the massive player base of the company's games, including hosting live events like the Pokémon GO fest. The $3.5 billion deal is set to transform mobile gaming as Scopely continues to Niantic's millions of Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now players.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Games Industry, Statista, Pocket Gamer (1, 2)