In a deal that reshapes the mobile video game landscape, Scopely is acquiring the gaming business of Niantic for $3.5 billion, bringing franchises like Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now into its portfolio.
Scopely is the studio behind a number of major mobile games, including IP-driven franchises like Monopoly Go!, Star Trek Fleet Command, and Marvel Strike Force. Now it will have Niantic’s gaming stable, including the ever-popular Pokémon Go, in its portfolio.
In addition to the games, Scopely will also acquire Niantic’s companion apps and services Campfire and Wayfarer. The companies say that Niantic’s gaming division has more than 30 million monthly active players, and had more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024.
Still, there is no doubt that Pokémon Go is the star attraction of the deal.
One of the most popular mobile games of all time, and based on one of the mast famous pieces of intellectual property of all time (in addition to the classic Nintendo games, there are multiple TV shows and movies available), the game has more than 20 million weekly active players. Niantic has also expanded the game into live events, which Scopely says it will continue.
Pokémon Go uses augmented reality tech to let users explore the real world and collect Pokémon in the process, battling for control of gyms.
“It’s been an incredible joy to serve hundreds of millions of Trainers in our real-world community for the past 10 years, and I truly believe the best is yet to come,” said Ed Wu, senior VP of Pokémon Go. “Our mission remains clear: to inspire people to discover Pokémon in the real world together. With Scopely’s full commitment, experience, and resources, we’re going to make Pokémon Go the very best it can be – from incredible battles for thousands of Trainers at a time at our live events to new ways to connect to your friends and community. Most importantly, we’ll remain focused on the excitement and experience of discovering Pokémon in the real world.”
“Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organization is one of the best in the world at this endeavor. We are extremely inspired by what the team has built over the last decade, delivering innovative experiences that captivate a vast, enduring global audience and get people out in the real world. We look forward to further accelerating the team’s creativity through our partnership,” added Tim O’Brien, chief revenue officer and board member of Scopely. “Few games in the world have delivered the scale and longevity of Pokémon Go, which reached over 100 million players just last year. The experience also stands apart for its unique ability to foster in-person connections, with Pokémon Go live events attracting millions of attendees. After spending time with the Niantic team, it quickly became clear that this organization shares our inclination to create industry-leading outcomes and exceptional player experiences. We look forward to a bright future ahead.”
In connection with the deal, wha remains of Niantic will be spun off into Niantic Spatial Inc., a new geospatial AI company to be led by founder John Hanke. Niantic Spatial will continue to own the games Ingress Prime and Peridot.
“Niantic games have always been a bridge to connect people and inspire exploration, and I am confident they will continue to do both as part of Scopely,” said Hanke. “Scopely shares our focus on building and operating incredible live services, has exceptional experience working with the world’s biggest and most beloved intellectual properties, and cares deeply about its player communities and game-making teams. I firmly believe this partnership is great for our players and is the best way to ensure that our games have the long-term support and investment needed to be ‘forever games’ that will endure for future generations.”
