Rumors have been confirmed about Niantic's decision to sell its gaming division. The creators of Pokémon GO have struck a deal with Scopely, the developer of MONOPOLY GO!.
Scopely announced that it has agreed to purchase the division for $3.5 billion. Both parties have signed the agreement and are now awaiting approval from the antitrust regulator.
Under the terms of the deal, Scopely's portfolio will be expanded with games such as Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, as well as applications like Campfire and Wayfarer. Niantic’s gaming team will continue to be led by its current leaders, Kei Kawai and Ed Wu.
Scopely expects the acquisition to positively impact its business. The company noted that in 2024 alone, Niantic's games collectively earned more than a billion dollars, with a total monthly active user base (MAU) reaching 30 million people.
Niantic will focus on the development of augmented reality technologies. It has already announced the launch of a new subsidiary called Niantic Spatial, which will work on a "Large Geospatial Model" based on AI. Niantic has invested $250 million into its subsidiary, and Niantic Spatial has received an additional $50 million from Scopely.
It’s worth noting that at the end of last year, Scopely declared its intention to close at least one "megamergers" deal by 2025. With the purchase of Niantic's gaming division, it has fulfilled its promise.
Scopely itself has been owned by Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, since 2023.