Scopely has announced its acquisition of Niantic’s games business for a staggering $3.5 billion. This deal encompasses titles such as Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, as well as the talented teams behind them.
Niantic shared the news, highlighting Scopely’s commitment to building and operating engaging live services. They expressed confidence that this partnership will provide the long-term support necessary for their games to thrive. “Our game team has exciting long-term roadmaps that they will continue to build upon as part of Scopely,” Niantic stated. Players can look forward to ongoing investments in the games they cherish, all while being supported by the same teams that have crafted these experiences over the years.
For those interested in more details about this acquisition, you can check out the Scopely blog or read messages from Scopely co-CEOs Javier Ferreira and Walter Drive and insights from Pokémon GO team lead Ed Wu.
As part of this transition, Niantic will spin off its geospatial artificial intelligence business into a new entity called Niantic Spatial. This new company will be led by John Hanke and is set to receive $250 million in funding, which includes a $50 million investment from Scopely. Interestingly, Niantic’s original investors will remain shareholders in Niantic Spatial.
This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for both companies and could reshape the future of mobile gaming. With Scopely at the helm of these popular franchises, fans wonder what new adventures await them in their favorite games.