Pokemon Go Will Not Get In-Game Ads, Energy Meters After Scopely Acquisition is Complete

Following their recent business acquisition of Niantic’s game development sector, Scopely appears to have no immediate intentions of incorporating disruptive elements into games like Pokémon Go as a means to boost earnings. According to Michael Steranka, senior product director at Pokémon Go, the studio aims to preserve the factors that contributed to the game’s initial success.

When queried about whether games similar to Pokémon Go might incorporate features such as ads or restrictive game elements like an energy system that depletes each time the game is used, with additional energy being offered for purchase, Steranka confirmed that they would not be included. It’s common to find these types of elements in free-to-play mobile games.

In other words, Steranka emphasized that something specific should be clearly understood from our discussion: absolutely nothing like that is occurring in Pokémon Go at the present moment or in the future.

Scopely acknowledges the game’s uniqueness, stating they wouldn’t dream of altering the formula that has made it so popular and successful. Thus, we can confirm with certainty that we won’t be incorporating annoying ads or similar elements into our games.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, Scopely truly empowers their teams to call the shots that best suit their games. However, when it comes to Pokémon Go, I firmly believe that such autonomy wouldn’t align with its unique spirit.

Steranka added that although Scopely will manage the development team for Pokémon Go, they won’t be selling any of the game’s collected player data to external parties. He emphasized that the primary reason Pokémon Go requires a player’s location information is simply to ensure smooth gameplay functionality.

Steranka stated emphatically, “We never trade player data with external entities. Period. The information is exclusively used to run the game, with any necessary location data stored on U.S.-based servers. We adhere meticulously to stringent regulatory guidelines to safeguard this data as thoroughly as possible.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Scopely took over the development teams responsible for “Pokémon Go”, as well as those working on “Pikmin Bloom” and “Monster Hunter Now”. Additionally, Scopely now holds the rights to manage these game titles.

Regarding Niantic, the company intends to carry on operating their AR games such as Ingress Prime and Peridot. Moreover, they are planning to separate their technology-focused assets into a new entity named Niantic Spatial Inc. This newly established company will be led by the founder and CEO of Niantic, John Hanke.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share an exciting perspective: When Scopely announced its acquisition, it extended a heartfelt appreciation to the passionate communities behind Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. This admiration stems from the remarkable audiences these titles have cultivated, and Scopely expresses its commitment to standing alongside the developers as they continue to shape these games according to their creative visions.

The company stated that they think this collaboration with the Niantic games team, who will now be part of Scopely after the acquisition, will greatly aid them in reaching their ambitious long-term objectives, which have been primarily created with your experience in mind.

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2025-03-19 17:41