Niantic, the company behind augmented reality mobile games like Pokémon Go, has sold its gaming division to Scopely for US$3.5 billion.
Scopely was the world’s second-largest mobile game publisher by revenue in 2024, and has released games including Monopoly Go! and Marvel Strike Force. It is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian game developer Savvy Games Group, which is owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund.
“Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organisation is one of the best in the world at this endeavour,” said Scopely chief revenue officer Tim O’Brien.
“We are extremely inspired by what the team has built over the last decade, delivering innovative experiences that captivate a vast, enduring global audience and get people out in the real world. We look forward to further accelerating the team’s creativity through our partnership.”
As well as Pokémon Go, Niantic’s games portfolio includes Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now. Many of its games rely on augmented reality technology, with players’ real-world location and movements interacting with the games’ environment.
Scopely will also acquire Campfire and Wayfarer, Niantic’s social apps.
Niantic’s gaming division posted more than US$1 billion in revenue last year, Scopely said, with 500 million players logging in across all games. Pokemon Go, first launched in 2016, now boasts over 20 million weekly active players.
All Pokémon Go staff will remain in their roles after Scopely’s acquisition. The transaction is expected to complete later in 2025, with Niantic distributing an additional US$350 million in cash.
Niantic’s geospatial artificial intelligence operations will form a new company, known as Niantic Spatial. Niantic Spatial will retain ownership of the games Ingress Prime and Peridot.
“Existing maps were built for people to read and navigate but now there is a need for a new kind of map that makes the world intelligible for machines, for everything from smart glasses to humanoid robots, so they can understand and navigate the physical world,” said Niantic CEO John Hanke. “Niantic is building the models that will help AI move beyond the screen and into the real world.”
Niantic was evaluated at US$9 billion during a 2021 fundraising round. Scopely was purchased by Savvy Games Group for US$4.9 billion in 2023.
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