Scopely Acquires Niantic, Developer of Pokémon GO

Scopely has recently made a significant move in the gaming industry by acquiring Niantic for a hefty sum of $3.5 billion. This deal brings some of the most popular augmented reality games under Scopely's umbrella, including the iconic Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and the newer Monster Hunter Now.

Pokémon GO, a game that has been captivating players since its launch in 2016, continues to thrive with over 100 million unique players in 2024. Its enduring popularity is evident as it consistently ranks in the top 10 mobile games year after year.

Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo in 2021, has also seen a surge in popularity, especially in 2024. The game, which encourages players to plant virtual flowers while walking, saw players log an impressive 3.94 trillion steps last year. Additionally, in-person events in Japan, the U.S., and Germany attracted thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's latest offering since its launch in September 2023, has already achieved 15 million downloads, showcasing its rapid growth and appeal.

Along with these games, Niantic's development teams and supportive apps like Campfire and Wayfarer are also transitioning to Scopely. Campfire facilitates real-world gameplay connections, while Wayfarer enables players to contribute new location points for Niantic games. In 2024, over six million players used Campfire to participate in in-person events, 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 is minimal. Scopely already boasts an impressive lineup of games like MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, suggesting that Niantic's games will continue to thrive under their new management.

Scopely has committed to enhancing the development teams with additional resources and introducing new AR experiences to enrich Niantic's games. This promises exciting updates and improvements in the near future.

For those interested, be sure to check out the Pokémon GO Festival of Colors event on the Google Play Store. And don't miss our coverage on the latest update for KartRider Rush+, which has just launched Season 31 featuring Journey to the West.