Pokemon GO Director Reassures Fans: No Ads or Data Selling After Scopely Purchase!

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Summary

  • Pokemon GO director Michael Steranka addresses fans’ concerns amid Scopely’s acquisition and confirms intrusive ads will never be included.
  • Niantic does not sell player data to third parties, ensuring strict protection practices.
  • The Pokemon Company fully supports Scopely’s acquisition, promising continued authenticity in the game.

As a devoted fan, I’m excited to share some insights about the recent change in Pokémon GO’s management. Since Scopely took over Niantic’s games division, there has been much speculation among us fans regarding the impact on our beloved game. Well, Michael Steranka, who’s been a key figure in developing and shaping Pokémon GO for eight years, has spoken up to address these concerns. Pokémon GO, an augmented reality adventure that’s been captivating us since its launch in 2016, invites trainers like us to venture through our real-world surroundings, capturing, training, and battling virtual Pokémon along the way.

Scopely is a well-known American video game company, recognized as the world’s second largest mobile game developer. In 2023, they released Monopoly GO, which turned out to be the most popular mobile game of that year. Some may recall their work on Pikmin Bloom and Marvel Strike Force. Currently, Scopely is working on Monster Hunter Now, which collaborated with Monster Hunter Wilds to mark Capcom’s launch, and Pokemon GO enthusiasts are concerned about their cherished game being handed over to new artists.

In a conversation with Polygon, Steranka aimed to alleviate fans’ worries following the news in early March 2025 that Pokemon GO was acquired by Scopely. Steranka verified he thoroughly investigated Scopely and found they possess similar values that Niantic has treasured for a long time. Moreover, Niantic is optimistic about Scopely’s capacity to “develop the game in line with how we have always imagined.

Steranka has clarified the common worry among fans about potential intrusive advertisements disrupting gameplay in Pokémon Go. He assured, “There are no plans for such advertisements in Pokémon Go at any point, now or in the future.” Further explaining, he stated that they do not intend to incorporate obtrusive ads into their games as it does not align with their vision for Pokémon GO.

Pokemon GO Director Weighs in on Fans’ Concerns Amid Scopely Acquisition

Fans of Pokemon GO have voiced various concerns over Scopely’s acquisition, one being the potential sharing of player location and activity data with external entities. Steranka addressed this directly by stating, “We do not trade player data with third parties, period.” They also mentioned adhering to stringent regulatory guidelines for safeguarding such data as effectively as possible. Moreover, Steranka announced The Pokemon Company is fully supportive of the Scopely acquisition and promised the community that they will remain an active, engaged partner to Scopely, working together to deliver genuine Pokemon GO experiences.

As a dedicated Pokemon GO fan, I’ve been following the recent developments with bated breath. While Niantic developers are working tirelessly to bring trainers into their fold through new acquisitions, they’ve also had to address a misstep in the AR game that’s left a sour taste. It seems that Niantic might be offering reparations to Pokemon GO players due to a Catch Mastery event glitch. This bug made it extremely challenging for trainers to catch Shiny Omanyte or Shiny Kabuto, which was disappointing given the promise of increased shiny spawn rates. The frustration escalated when these promised increases didn’t materialize, adding fuel to the player community’s longstanding discontent with the game’s recurring bugs and technical issues.

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2025-03-19 17:14