Scopely Acquires Niantic, Maker of Pokémon GO

Scopely has recently announced its acquisition of Niantic, marking a significant move in the world of augmented reality gaming. This business deal, valued at $3.5 billion, brings some of the biggest names in AR gaming under Scopely's umbrella, including Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now.

Pokémon GO remains a powerhouse, even nearly a decade after its launch in 2016. The game 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 debut.

Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo in 2021, will now be managed by Scopely. This game encourages players to plant virtual flowers as they walk, and it saw a significant increase 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 game launched in September 2023, 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 player connections for real-world gameplay, while Wayfarer enables the mapping of new locations for Niantic games. In 2024, more than six million players attended in-person events through Campfire, and Wayfarer has added 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 should be minimal. Scopely already boasts an impressive lineup of games including MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, ensuring that Niantic's games will likely continue to thrive.

Scopely has committed to providing additional resources to the development team and introducing new experiences, such as enhanced AR interactions, to Niantic's games. It will be exciting to see how these enhancements are implemented in the near future.

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

Before you go, make sure to catch up on our latest news about KartRider Rush+ launching Season 31, featuring Journey to the West.