The developers behind Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now—Niantic—have been acquired by Scopely in a $3.5 billion deal. Scopely will acquire Niantic’s games business, and at least for now, the Niantic game teams will continue to pursue their roadmaps led by studio leaders Kei Kawai and Ed Wu. If you’ve never heard of Scopely, the company is behind Monopoly Go!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, Marvel Strike Force, and others.
Since its launch in 2016, Pokémon GO has remained a top-10 mobile title each year. It currently has over 20 million weekly active players, who have explored more than 30 billion miles together. While that’s clearly the major title in Niantic’s portfolio, Scopely is also getting Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now, Campire, and Wayfarer with the deal. All members of the development team will join Scopely.
As a result of the acquisition, Niantic is spinning off its technology platform into a new standalone entity named Niantic Spatial Inc. That company will focus on geospatial AI, powered by a next-generation map that enables devices and machines to understand and interact with the physical world. Niantic Spatial will continue to own and operate Ingress Prime and Peridot.
Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organization is one of the best in the world at this endeavor. We are extremely inspired by what the team has built over the last decade, delivering innovative experiences that captivate a vast, enduring global audience and get people out in the real world. We look forward to further accelerating the team’s creativity through our partnership.
Few games in the world have delivered the scale and longevity of ‘Pokémon GO’, which reached over 100 million players just last year. The experience also stands apart for its unique ability to foster in-person connections, with Pokémon GO live events attracting millions of attendees. After spending time with the Niantic team, it quickly became clear that this organization shares our inclination to create industry-leading outcomes and exceptional player experiences. We look forward to a bright future ahead.
Tim O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer and Board Member of Scopely
