Pokémon Go’s future could soon be in new hands, as Niantic is reportedly planning to sell its entire games division to Scopely for $3.5 billion.
It has been reported that Niantic Inc., the company responsible for bringing the world phenomenon Pokémon Go in 2016, is now reportedly looking to offload the entire gaming division (which includes Pokémon Go and Monster Hunter Now). The deal is reportedly in the billions, with the figure of $3.5 billion being tagged to the sale, according to Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia-owned company Scopely Inc. has been named as the potential buyer.
The report says the $3.5 billion deal would include “all” mobile games as part of Niantic Inc. Pokémon Go was a worldwide phenomenon almost overnight in 2016, with net proceeds earning Niantic Inc. over $500 million in its first year, according to Statista. Niantic Inc. also started an AR-based experience based on CAPCOM’s hit Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Now. Monster Hunter Now has also been a hit success for Niantic Inc. thus far, raking in over $100 million in proceeds after its release in 2023.
Niantic Inc. hasn’t always landed on solid ground when releasing an AR-based game, though. One of their titles, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite launched in 2019 to lukewarm critical reception and ended up closing down on January 31, 2022. Niantic then wrote, “Not all games are meant to last forever. Our goal with Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was to bring the magic of the wizarding world to life for millions of players as they stepped outside and explored their neighbourhoods. We accomplished that together, delivering a two-year narrative story arc that will soon complete.”
In that posting, Niantic Inc. spoke about plans to release Pikmin Bloom and Transformers: Heavy Metal, and both were designated to be the next AR-based titles out of Niantic Inc. Seeing as how Transformers: Heavy Metal was officially cancelled in June 2022, Niantic may have been attempting to wind down its games division prior to the 2025 potential sale reports. Fans should wait for an official Niantic Inc. statement for further information on the potential sale.
