Scopely Acquires Niantic, Developer of Pokémon GO

Scopely has recently announced a significant acquisition of Niantic, bringing some of the biggest names in augmented reality gaming under its umbrella. This business deal, valued at $3.5 billion, includes popular titles such as Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. Pokémon GO, a game that has been around for nearly a decade, continues to attract massive numbers, with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone. It has consistently ranked in the top 10 mobile games every year since its launch in 2016.

Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo in 2021, will now be managed by Scopely. The game, which encourages players to plant virtual flowers as they walk, experienced a surge in popularity in 2024. Players logged an impressive 3.94 trillion steps last year, and in-person events in Japan, the U.S., and Germany attracted thousands of fans.

Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's most recent addition, has already surpassed 15 million downloads since its launch in September 2023. 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, while Wayfarer enables players to map new locations for Niantic games. In 2024, over six million players used Campfire to participate in in-person events, and Wayfarer has contributed more than 11.5 million new location points since its launch in 2019.

What Does the Scopely and Niantic Deal Mean for Players?

For players, the transition to Scopely's management should be seamless. Scopely's portfolio already includes successful titles like MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, suggesting that Niantic's games will continue to thrive. Scopely has committed to enhancing the development teams with more resources and introducing new augmented reality (AR) experiences to Niantic's games. It will be exciting to see how these enhancements are rolled out in the near future.

On that note, be sure to check out Pokémon GO's Festival of Colors event on the Google Play Store.

Before you go, don't miss our coverage of KartRider Rush+ Season 31, which features the Journey to the West theme.