Scopely’s Acquisition Of Niantic Puts It In Unique Company

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Scopely, recognized for the hit mobile game Monopoly Go!, has consented to purchase Niantic, creators of Pokemon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and the mobile version of Monster Hunter titled Monster Hunter Now. This transaction, estimated at $3.5 billion, corroborates a report from last month.

Under Scopely’s management now encompass all of Niantic’s holdings. Among these are Pokemon Go, a game that continues to attract more than 20 million active users each week, along with Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now, Campfire, and Wayfarer.

Niantic, the company behind it, plans to establish a separate business entity named Niantic Spatial Inc., which will operate independently. This newly formed entity will be helmed by John Hanke, who currently serves as Niantic’s founder and CEO.

Niantic games have always served as a means to bring people together and motivate exploration, and I am certain they will maintain this dual role within Scopely. This is because Scopely aligns with our commitment towards creating and managing outstanding live services, boasts a rich history of collaborating with renowned intellectual properties worldwide, and places great importance on their player communities as well as game development teams.

Scopley Now Enters Unique Company Owning Multiple Top Ten Mobile Games

In the United States, Scopley, with its leadership in mobile gaming and backed by popular games like Monopoly Go and Scrabble Go, now controls several top-10 mobile gaming titles. The integration of Niantic’s collection of games, including Pokemon Go, along with Scopley’s own franchises such as MARVEL Strike Force and Stumble Guys, cements its status as a major player in the mobile gaming industry.

Scopely has consistently aimed to foster significant connections by encouraging playfulness, and Niantic’s game development group is one of the leading organizations globally in this pursuit. We are deeply motivated by the incredible work the team has accomplished over the past ten years, offering groundbreaking experiences that captivate a broad, long-lasting worldwide fanbase and encourage people to engage with the real world. We eagerly anticipate boosting the team’s creativity even more through our collaboration,” said Tim O’Brien, Scopely’s Chief Revenue Officer and Board Member.

Beyond the 20 million monthly active users of Pokemon Go, this mobile spin-off of the Pokemon series has consistently ranked among the top ten mobile games since it debuted in 2016. On average, each user dedicates about 40 minutes daily to the game, with approximately half of them playing every day of the week. Meanwhile, since its launch in 2021, Pikmin Blooms has experienced consistent growth, with players taking a staggering 3.94 trillion steps last year alone. The game reached its peak player count back in 2024.

Since the launch of Monster Hunter Now in September 2023, it has garnered more than 15 million downloads due to its widespread popularity.

Niantic and Scopely will keep their respective game development teams intact, with approximately 2,300 developers from Scopely across the globe still in place.

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2025-03-13 00:09