Scopely Acquires Niantic, Developer of Pokémon GO

Scopely has recently announced a major 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 like Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. Pokémon GO, despite being nearly a decade old, continues to attract massive audiences, 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 2021 in collaboration with Nintendo, will now be managed by Scopely. This game encourages players to plant virtual flowers as they walk, and it experienced a significant 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 drew thousands of fans.

Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's latest offering since its launch 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 helps map new locations for Niantic games. In 2024, over six million players attended in-person events through Campfire, and Wayfarer 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 acquisition doesn't bring immediate changes. Scopely's existing portfolio, which includes successful titles like MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, suggests that Niantic's games will continue to thrive. Scopely has committed to providing additional resources to the development teams and introducing new AR interactions to enhance the Niantic gaming experience. It will be exciting to see these enhancements implemented in the near future.

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

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