Niantic Hit With Layoffs Following 3.5 Billion Dollar Scopely Acquisition

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Summary

  • About a month ago, Scoplely acquired Niantic, developers of Pokémon Go, for around 3.5 million dollars.
  • Following this acquisition, 68 employees have been let go from Niantic.
  • Games such as Pokémon Go will continue to be worked on by Niantic, developing their new technologies.

Approximately a month back, it became public knowledge that Scopely, renowned developer of mobile games, acquired Niantic – creators of popular titles like Pokémon Go and Monster Hunter Now – for an impressive 3.5 billion dollars. Given Niantic’s strategic alliance with Nintendo, this transaction gives Scopely a distinct advantage in the gaming industry.

Scopely is particularly recognized for its collection of mobile games such as Monopoly Go and Scrabble Go. But what truly expanded their reach in the mobile gaming industry was the purchase of Niantic, giving them a significant share of that market.

Investigators at gamedeveloper.com have uncovered that Niantic has formally let go of 68 staff members, hinting at the company’s broader plans to restructure. This news may not bode well for those concerned about the future of games such as Pokémon Go in light of this acquisition.

Despite Niantic’s earlier assertion that the layoffs wouldn’t harm games such as Pokémon Go and claims of upcoming features and updates, a significant number of players remain uncertain if this move might adversely affect the game itself.

Initially, this move by Niantic is only one of numerous significant changes made post-acquisition. Not too long ago, Niantic’s founder and CEO, John Hanke, distributed an internal memo announcing the acquisition and outlining possible job reductions due to organizational restructuring.

In the email, it was clarified that Niantic’s latest technology-based spinoff has been renamed as Niantic Spatial Incorporated. Furthermore, this new entity intends to specialize as a company committed to fulfilling the potential of artificial intelligence in geospatial applications.

Or

The email outlined that Niantic’s newly separated tech venture is now referred to as Niantic Spatial Inc. The aim of this fresh enterprise is to concentrate on becoming a specialized organization, dedicated to realizing the capabilities of AI within the geospatial field.

Previously, John Hanke held a leadership position at Google, where he oversaw projects like Google Maps. This background likely informs Niantic’s future goals. Much like Google Maps, Niantic’s products, such as Pokémon Go, aim to advance geospatial AI technology. They strive to foster more human interaction within digital environments, connecting the physical world with the online realm.

Previously, Hanke expressed regret in an email regarding the anticipated layoffs that the company might have to implement as part of its restructuring process. Subsequently, it was verified in a recent report that the company indeed carried out layoffs, with a total of 68 employees being affected.

Previously, Hanke expressed his sympathies towards those employees who might be affected by potential job losses. He assured that Niantic will provide assistance as they venture into fresh career prospects.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about the evolving landscape of Pokémon Go. Although there’s uncertainty regarding its long-term prospects, it’s reassuring to see that Niantic is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology. This dedication likely means that we’ll witness more emphasis on augmented reality and geospatial features in upcoming updates, making our journey even more immersive!

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2025-04-16 01:09