Niantic to Sell Pokémon GO to Scopely, Developers Behind Monopoly Go

Pokémon GO is reportedly due to be sold to Saudi Arabian-owned developer Scopely for $3.5 billion USD (around $5 billion CAD). In a breaking report from Eurogamer, Niantic has inked the deal. The acquisition also includes the sale of Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now.

Following earlier reports of an acquisition, Niantic’s senior vice president of Pokémon GO Ed Wu confirms that Pokémon GO will be joining Scopely. Wu remarks that the acquisition “will be a positive step for all of [the players] and the game’s future.” He then continues to outline the broader impacts Scopely may have on the game moving forward, including the company’s admiration for the game and its massive community.

It’s confirmed that as part of the acquisition, the Pokémon GO development team will be staying together. ” The same people who have been guiding and building the game for years will continue doing what we love,” Wu states. It’s said that in the coming future, new Raid Battles, GO Battle League events, and Pokémon GO Fest will continue to be brought to the game.

Scopely, the Saudi-backed makers of Monopoly GO!, have experience in the mobile market. The company has also worked on The Walking Dead: Road to Survival and Yahtzee With Buddies on mobile.

“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.”

Pokémon GO has been a major boon for Niantic since launching in 2016. The game has over 30 million monthly active users, generating $8 billion USD (around $11 billion CAD) in revenue over its lifetime on the market.