Saudi-Owned Scopely Acquires Pokémon Go and Niantic’s Gaming Business for $3.5 Billion
Scopely, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has purchased Pokémon Go and other Niantic games for $3.5 billion. The deal strengthens Saudi Arabia’s push into the gaming industry while Niantic shifts focus to AR and AI projects.
Scopely Inc., a company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has acquired Niantic Inc.’s gaming division, including the hit mobile game Pokémon Go, in a deal worth $3.5 billion. The acquisition also includes Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, along with the teams responsible for developing these titles. Scopely confirmed the deal on Wednesday, following an earlier report by Bloomberg News.
This move is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to expand its influence in the gaming industry. Scopely was itself acquired in 2023 for $4.9 billion by Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of PIF, which has allocated $38 billion to transform the kingdom into a global gaming hub. The purchase of Niantic’s gaming division further solidifies Saudi Arabia’s push into interactive entertainment.
Niantic, originally a part of Google, became independent in 2015 under the leadership of founder John Hanke, who had previously worked on satellite mapping and Google’s Geo products. The company revolutionized mobile gaming by integrating augmented reality with real-world exploration, leading to the massive success of Pokémon Go in 2016. Despite being on the market for years, the game remains highly profitable, generating over $1 billion in revenue last year with 30 million monthly active players, according to Scopely.
With this acquisition, questions arise about the future direction of Pokémon Go and Niantic’s other AR games. While Scopely has experience in mobile gaming, it remains to be seen whether the company will make significant changes to the titles or maintain their current development path. For Niantic, this deal marks a shift in focus, as the company has struggled to replicate the success of Pokémon Go and has been pivoting toward augmented reality and artificial intelligence-driven projects beyond gaming.
As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid expansion in the gaming industry, the acquisition of Niantic’s gaming division is a significant step in its mission to become a major force in interactive entertainment. The impact of this deal will unfold in the coming years, especially for players and fans of Pokémon Go worldwide.
Also Read: Niantic in Talks to Sell Pokémon Go Business to Saudi-Owned Scopely for $3.5 Billion
