The Niantic Pokémon GO sale has been made official—mobile gaming firm Scopely now owns our beloved game. The news of Pokémon GO’s ownership change has caused quite a stir, particularly due to the uncertainty of what it means for the game. While the craze around the game has died down a little since the early days of its launch, it is still quite popular among mobile gamers and fans of the collect-your-critters-yourself strategy.

It isn’t just the game that has transferred hands either. The Pokémon GO acquisition news came with a $3.5 billion price tag as that is how much the Saudi Arabian establishment has paid to acquire Niantic’s gaming division. Other games like Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now are also part of the deal, making this a pivotal moment in Niantic’s legacy within the gaming industry.

Pokémon GO Scopely sale

Will the Pokémon GO ownership change leave us with an unrecognizable game? It does not appear so for now. (Image: Pokémon GO Might and Mastery)

Niantic Pokémon GO Sale: Who Bought The Game?

So Who Bought Pokémon GO? Niantic’s Pokémon GO and overall video game division has been sold to Scopely, a Saudi Arabia-owned mobile developer that, in 2024, was reportedly the second-biggest mobile video game developer in the world in terms of revenue. 

Scopely was acquired by the Savvy Games Group in 2023 for $4.9 billion as a part of the Saudi government’s push to expand its gaming and esports investments. The government has promised to invest $38 billion in video games by 2030 via the Public Investment Fund, so you should expect to hear more from tech players in that region in the coming months. 

According to the Savvy Games Group, “Scopely has surpassed $10 billion in lifetime revenue due to its ability to create long-lasting game experiences that players enjoy for years.” 

It’s true—Scopely has an extensive portfolio of games that you might have played at one point or another without realizing it. The company’s mobile game collections are linked to many popular franchises like Monopoly Go!, Star Trek Fleet Command, The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, YAHTZEE With Buddies Dice Game, and WWE Champions. These don’t cover their full collections of games but they paint an accurate picture of the success that the company has already found.

What Does the Pokémon GO Ownership Change Involve?

Announcing the Pokémon GO acquisition news, Scopely reported that it was taking on “Niantic’s entire team of exceptional game makers and category-leading games.” This means that apart from Pokémon GO, other apps like Campfire, Wayfarer, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, will also shift to Scopely. 

Studio leaders Kei Kawai and Ed Wu will remain at the helm, working on these games without interruption and the entire team currently working on the project is expected to continue to stay together. Ed Wu joined Niantic in 2012 and has been with the company ever since, standing out as one of the original engineers on the Pokémon GO codebase. 

“As an engineer, I’ve watched the code I’ve written for Pokémon GO change people’s lives drastically for the better. That includes my own family, from relatives improving their health from exercising while playing the game to hearing so many members of our community recount how they’ve met the love of their lives through playing Pokémon GO and experiencing the incredible real-life community it fosters,” Ed Wu said in an announcement. 

Will Pokémon GO Change After the Niantic Sale?

The Niantic Pokémon GO sale in 2025 has caused fans to worry about the game shifting away from its original structure and design as a result of the transition but the team has provided reassurance that not much is expected to change. 

Scopley took over the game because they saw its potential to continue captivating audiences, and changing too much about it would cause them to lose out on the steady fanbase. For now, Niantic has said it will continue to follow the long-term road maps they have already plotted, but they will do so under Scopely now.

“Every interaction I’ve had with Scopely leaders has reinforced that we are in total agreement that the scale, longevity, and most of all, real-world community, of Pokémon GO make it truly special. We are united in protecting that” Ed Wu explained. That said, he also clarified that he cannot promise that the game will remain unchanged entirely, but the evolution of the game will continue to follow the same path it has since its launch. 

Both the Pokémon GO team and Niantic appear committed to retaining the community and active programs surrounding the game.

Niantic Pokémon GO Scopely

Image: Scopely buys Pokémon GO, but Niantic holds on to its geospatial AI business.

What Are the Transaction Details of the Niantic Pokémon GO Sale?

You might be curious about the transaction details that have emerged with the Pokémon GO acquisition news. Scopely will acquire Niantic games like Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, as well as their development teams, for $3.5 billion. Niantic will also contribute $350 million in cash, bringing the total deal value for shareholders to approximately $3.85 billion.

Additionally, Niantic’s geospatial AI business is splitting off into its own separate wing as Niantic Spatial Inc., led by John Hanke. This new company will receive $250 million in funding. To break that number down further, it will get $200 million from Niantic and $50 million from Scopely. Niantic investors will retain their stake in this spatial business. Niantic Spatial is expected to maintain ownership of Ingress and Peridot.

How Do Gamers Feel About Scopely’s Niantic and Pokémon Go Acquisition

Niantic’s Pokémon GO sale to Scopely is likely the hardest on the team behind the game and the changes it will mean for them, but fans are equally affected by the change. Online, there is understandable confusion about whether Scopely will push the game into a more pay-to-win model or add a smattering of micro-transactions across the game. 

Some have cited Scopely’s Marvel Strike Force as an example of a game that heavily encourages players to spend their money. For a vast, community-friendly game like Pokémon GO, such a change would be tragic. Most don’t seem to feel like this shift in ownership is a good thing for anyone involved.

Other fans are trying to stay optimistic, setting their sights on what comes next as a result of Scopely’s Niantic and Pokémon Go acquisition. The game has remained extremely successful over the years, but some of the decisions taken by Niantic have not entirely appealed to fans. Could this change perhaps encourage a few to return to the game after a long break? Their numbers will be few but it will be an interesting trend nonetheless. 

It’s quite easy to take a free game for granted and be critical of the paid content it offers, but over the years, Pokémon GO has been extremely F2P-friendly. It has also kept new content coming at a steady pace, with something new to offer every month, even if it does feel a tad bit repetitive sometimes. We’re waiting to see if that changes under Scopely.

How are you taking the news of Pokémon GO’s acquisition? Let us know. For more updates on the world of technology, subscribe to Technowize. 

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