Pokémon Go under new ownership as Niantic embarks “on a bold new course”

The popular games Pokémon Go and its related titles will undergo a shift in leadership following the announcement of their recent acquisition.

According to a recent announcement by game developer Niantic, they have officially transferred ownership of their mobile games portfolio to Scopely in a massive deal worth an impressive $3.5 billion.

Scopely, known for its ownership of Monopoly Go, is set to assume control as the fresh proprietors of Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter.

This agreement encompasses the development teams responsible for these video games as well, but it’s uncertain at this point if any positions could potentially be affected due to this acquisition.

In simpler terms, Niantic’s games extensively utilize location-based technology, and they plan to emphasize this technology even more in the time ahead.

The company made an announcement through their official social media platforms that they will be establishing a separate entity for their groundbreaking geospatial AI business, which they have named Niantic Spatial Inc.

Scopely, in the world of mobile gaming, has already established itself as a towering titan. It holds the licensing for Monopoly Go, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Star Trek Fleet Command.

The organization is actually a subordinate of the Saudi-headquartered Savvy Games Group, an entity that owns numerous gaming companies and holds substantial stakes in corporations such as Nintendo, Electronic Arts (EA), Capcom, and Embracer Group.

According to Scopely CFO Tim O’Brien, the team’s creations over the past ten years have left them incredibly inspired. These innovations have captured a wide, lasting international audience and encouraged people to engage with the real world.

“We look forward to a bright future ahead.”

Although Scopely and Niantic see the acquisition in a favorable light, opinions among the players and enthusiasts of these games lean towards being divided.

A significant number of Pokémon Go enthusiasts, who had grown disenchanted with how Niantic managed the game, now harbor hope that these changes will improve its future prospects.

Niantic, the developer behind these games, assures us that they’ve got thrilling long-term plans in store. These plans are designed to minimize any immediate impact of the acquisition on each individual game.

Other replies showed a noticeably negative tone, as exemplified by one tweet that read, “Is it going to cost money to catch Pokémon now?” This could be seen as a critical comment about Scopely’s monetization strategies.

In terms of global mobile gaming, Pokémon Go – projected to generate approximately $1 billion in earnings by 2024 – is poised to significantly impact the market, both immediately and over the long haul.

Time will reveal if this development proves beneficial for Pokémon Go and its related titles, given its potential impact.

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2025-03-12 17:34