Monopoly Go Developer Acquires Pokémon Go for $3.5 Billion

The whispers were indeed true. Niantic, the force behind the massive augmented reality sensation Pokémon Go, has officially been acquired by mobile gaming titan Scopely for a staggering $3.5 billion.

In an announcement made by Niantic, Scopely, and the Pokémon Go team, it was confirmed that Scopely has taken over the entire Niantic Games operation. Scopely, famous for a slew of successful games including Monopoly Go, now owns Niantic’s gaming portfolio. Monopoly Go has enjoyed a level of success few mobile games have achieved, rivaling that of Niantic’s flagship hit.

This acquisition means Scopely now holds the reins to Niantic’s other augmented reality titles like Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now. They also inherit the companion apps Campfire, designed for social connectivity among players, and Wayfarer, which lets users contribute real-world location data for in-game purposes. According to Scopely, Niantic’s gaming division boasts an impressive 30 million monthly active users and generates over $1 billion annually, largely thanks to Pokémon Go.

While Scopely operates out of the U.S., it is owned by Savvy Games Group, an influential player in the gaming investment landscape established by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Known for its assertive monetization strategies across titles such as Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and Marvel Strike Force, Scopely’s management has stirred uncertainty among Pokémon Go fans, some of whom are wary of potential changes and have considered leaving if the deal goes ahead.

On a brighter note, Scopely has reassured the gaming community that it plans to keep “all members” of the Niantic Games team. Ed Wu, head of Pokémon Go, expressed optimism about Scopely’s approach, noting that the company empowers its game teams to operate autonomously, following their creative visions to enhance the player experience. Wu shared that discussions with several Scopely leaders have filled him with confidence about how the company supports each game’s independent development and creative success.

Additionally, Niantic will spin off its geospatial technology platform, establishing a new entity named Niantic Spatial. This new business will retain the rights to Niantic’s original AR title, Ingress Prime, as well as the virtual pet game Peridot.