The deal includes acquiring Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter NOW, and their development teams from Niantic for $3.85 billion.
The deal between Niantic, the developer of 2016 ARG hit Pokémon GO, and Monopoly GO devs Scopely has been finalised. The announcement was made on Niantic's website on 12 March.
This includes the acquisition of Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter NOW, and their respective development teams from Niantic, valued at US$3.85 billion. This total includes $3.5 billion from Scopely, with Niantic contributing an additional US$350 million in cash.
Scopely Acquires Pokémon GO and Other Niantic Games for US$3.85 Billion
Scopely, a leader in mobile gaming, has reached an agreement to acquire Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now, and their respective development teams from Niantic. The deal, valued at approximately US$3.85 billion, includes US$3.5 billion from Scopely and an additional US$350 million in cash from Niantic.
Niantic stated that its game team has "exciting long-term roadmaps" that will continue to evolve under Scopely. The company emphasised that this partnership guarantees the "long-term support needed to be 'forever games' that will endure for future generations." Players can expect Scopely to maintain investment in the games, apps, services, and events they love, with the same teams remaining at the helm of their development.
Pokémon GO became a global phenomenon during its launch in 2016, eventually reaching a peak player count of 232 million, according to a report by location spoofer Locacange. Despite a surge in player count during the pandemic, numbers have since decreased. The game still has a strong active player base worth US$118 million in the last 30 days, and an estimated lifetime revenue of US$5 billion.
Niantic has also released other successful titles, such as Pikmin Bloom, which has generated over US$63 million in revenue over the past three years, according to a Pocket Gamer report from November. In contrast, the location-based game Monster Hunter Now brought in nearly US$225 million in its first year but amassed only around 10 million players.
Scopely has established a strong portfolio of successful titles, with Monopoly GO! at the forefront, alongside Marvel Strike Force, Star Trek Fleet Command, and Stumble Guys.
“We have long admired the innovative gameplay pioneered by the Niantic games team and the vibrant communities that have shaped the titles into the beloved experiences they are today. We deeply respect what makes these games special – the freedom to explore, the community forged along the way, and the thrill of discovery,” Scopely said in a statement published on their website.
“We believe our partnership with the Niantic games team – who will all join Scopely through this acquisition – will further enable them to achieve their exciting long-term goals, which are designed first and foremost with you in mind.”
The company was acquired by Savvy Games Group for US$4.9 billion in 2022 and now operates under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This isn’t Niantic’s first partnership with Savvy – Niantic signed a deal with the group in August 2024 to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
