Scopely Acquires Niantic, Developer of Pokémon GO

Scopely has recently announced its acquisition of Niantic, a major player in the augmented reality gaming industry, for a staggering $3.5 billion. This deal brings some of the most popular AR games under Scopely's umbrella, including Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now.

Pokémon GO, which has been a phenomenon since its launch in 2016, continues to attract a massive audience. In 2024, the game boasted over 100 million unique players and has consistently ranked in the top 10 mobile games annually.

Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo in 2021, has also seen significant growth. The game, which encourages players to plant virtual flowers while walking, recorded 3.94 trillion steps in 2024. Large in-person events in Japan, the U.S., and Germany further boosted its popularity, drawing thousands of fans.

Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's latest addition, launched in September 2023 and has already surpassed 15 million downloads. Alongside the games, Niantic's development teams and companion apps like Campfire and Wayfarer are also transitioning to Scopely. Campfire facilitates real-world gameplay connections, with over six million players attending in-person events in 2024. Wayfarer, on the other hand, has contributed over 11.5 million new location points since its inception in 2019.

What Does the Scopely and Niantic Deal Mean for Players?

For players, the immediate impact of this acquisition might be minimal. Scopely already boasts an impressive lineup of games, including MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force. The expectation is that Niantic's games will continue to thrive under Scopely's management.

Scopely has committed to enhancing the development teams with additional resources and introducing new AR experiences to Niantic's games. These enhancements could bring exciting changes to the gaming experience in the near future.

On a related note, don't miss out on Pokémon GO's Festival of Colors, available on the Google Play Store.

Before you go, take a moment to read our latest news on KartRider Rush+ launching Season 31, featuring Journey to the West.