Scopely has announced an agreement to acquire Niantic’s games business in a $3.5 billion deal. The acquisition includes some of Niantic’s most successful titles, such as Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, along with the company’s game development teams and companion services like Campfire and Wayfarer. This transaction marks a major shift in the mobile gaming industry, as Scopely expands its portfolio with some of the most well-established location-based games.
Niantic’s games have consistently attracted large audiences, with over 30 million monthly active players in 2024. The company generated more than $1 billion in revenue that same year, demonstrating the continued success of its mobile-first experiences. Among the games included in the deal, Pokémon GO remains one of the most widely played mobile games globally, with over 100 million unique players in 2024. With the addition of Niantic’s portfolio, Scopely’s combined player base will exceed half a billion players worldwide.
Scopely, a Los Angeles-based mobile gaming company, has built its reputation on live-operated, community-driven games that encourage long-term engagement. The company has expanded rapidly in recent years through acquisitions and partnerships, strengthening its position in the gaming market with popular titles such as MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, and MARVEL Strike Force. The integration of Niantic’s games aligns with Scopely’s strategy of investing in social, interactive gaming experiences that foster dedicated communities.
In 2023, Scopely was acquired by Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), for $4.9 billion. This acquisition positioned Scopely as a key player in Saudi Arabia’s broader initiative to establish itself as a global leader in the gaming and esports industries. The PIF has also made significant investments in major gaming companies, including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Nintendo, as part of a long-term strategy to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy beyond oil. With Saudi Arabia’s financial backing, Scopely has continued its global expansion, acquiring companies and intellectual properties that align with its vision for mobile and live-service gaming. The acquisition of Niantic’s games division is a natural progression of this strategy, allowing Scopely to take ownership of some of the most successful location-based mobile games.
Niantic, originally founded as an internal startup at Google in 2010, became an independent company in 2015 and quickly rose to prominence with the release of Pokémon GO in 2016. The company established itself as a leader in augmented reality (AR) and location-based gaming, pioneering new ways for players to interact with digital content in the real world. Niantic’s technology encouraged millions of players to explore their surroundings, making its games distinct from traditional mobile experiences.
Following the acquisition, Niantic will spin off its technology division into a separate company called Niantic Spatial Inc. Led by CEO John Hanke, this new entity will focus on geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) and mapping technologies. Niantic Spatial aims to develop next-generation AR experiences and will continue to operate Ingress Prime and Peridot. Hanke stated that while Niantic’s core mission of connecting people through real-world exploration remains unchanged, the company will now shift its focus toward technological innovation rather than game development.
Scopely’s acquisition of Niantic’s games business includes Pokémon GO, which remains one of the most successful mobile games of all time. The game, based on the popular Pokémon franchise, has maintained over 20 million weekly active players and has consistently ranked among the top 10 mobile games since its launch in 2016. Live events for Pokémon GO continue to draw millions of participants, with Pokémon GO Fest selling over 2 million tickets in 2024 alone.
Another game included in the acquisition is Pikmin Bloom, which was launched in 2021 in collaboration with Nintendo. The game saw a resurgence in 2024, achieving its highest active player count more than three years after release. Players collectively walked nearly 4 trillion steps last year, with large in-person events taking place in multiple countries. Monster Hunter Now, a more recent release from September 2023, has also proven to be a major success, reaching 15 million downloads within its first seven months. The game has gained a particularly strong following in Japan, where in-person events have drawn thousands of players. More than half of Monster Hunter Now’s player base engages with the game daily, reflecting a deeply committed community.
Scopely will also take ownership of Campfire and Wayfarer, two companion services that enhance Niantic’s game experiences. Campfire enables players to connect for real-world meetups and cooperative gameplay, while Wayfarer allows players to map new in-game locations. Since its launch in 2019, the Wayfarer community has added more than 11.5 million locations to Niantic’s games, expanding the interactive world for players.
Tim O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer at Scopely, praised Niantic’s ability to build strong gaming communities through innovative gameplay. He emphasized that Scopely remains committed to supporting and growing these experiences. With this acquisition, Scopely not only strengthens its position in the mobile gaming industry but also expands into the AR and location-based gaming market, an area that has been a defining feature of Niantic’s success.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, this acquisition represents a significant shift in leadership for some of the most recognized mobile gaming titles. With Niantic transitioning to a focus on geospatial AI, Scopely now assumes responsibility for the future development and player engagement of Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. Given Scopely’s expertise in live-operated games and its financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the company is well-positioned to support these games in the long term. The deal underscores a larger trend in the gaming industry, where major acquisitions continue to reshape the landscape of mobile and interactive entertainment.