Scopely, a gaming company backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has purchased Niantic’s gaming division for $3.5 billion. This deal includes the hit mobile game Pokémon Go, along with Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now.
Pokémon Go continues to be one of the most successful mobile games. Last year, Niantic’s gaming business earned over $1 billion and had 30 million monthly users. However, other games from Niantic struggled to find the same success.
Scopely’s acquisition will bring these popular games under Saudi ownership. This move strengthens Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the gaming industry.
Through this deal, Scopely not only acquires well-known games but also the teams that develop them. This expansion will help Scopely grow and create new opportunities in the gaming market.
Despite this acquisition, Scopely will not take over Niantic’s mapping technology business. That part of Niantic will continue separately under a new name, Niantic Spatial.
Niantic Spatial has received $250 million in funding to develop new mapping technology. The company plans to use its expertise to improve logistics, manufacturing, education, and tourism.
While Pokémon Go moves to Scopely, Niantic will retain games like Ingress Prime and Peridot. These titles will remain part of Niantic Spatial’s future projects.
Saudi Arabia continues to expand its gaming investments. In 2023, Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion. With $38 billion in funding, Savvy aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a major gaming hub.
