Jobaaj Stories
Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, is rumored to be selling its video games division to Scopely for $3.5 billion. Bloomberg reported this, citing sources familiar with the discussions. A deal could be announced soon, but nothing is final yet.
Niantic started as a small team inside Google in 2010 but became independent in 2015. The company made a name for itself with Pokémon Go, a mobile game using augmented reality and real-world locations. The game was a massive success, reaching 500 million downloads in 2016 and earning over $6 billion by 2020.
Despite this success, Niantic struggled with other games. Titles like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and NBA All-World failed to attract players and were shut down. Even newer games like Monster Hunter NOW and Pikmin Bloom haven’t matched Pokémon Go’s popularity.
Scopely, a major player in mobile gaming, could be a strong buyer. The company owns popular games like Monopoly Go!, Marvel Strike Force, and Star Trek Fleet Command. In 2023, Scopely was bought by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group for $4.9 billion.
If the deal goes through, it could mark a big shift for Niantic as it moves away from game development.
