Culver City-based mobile game developer Scopely will acquire the games portfolio of developer Niantic, including the hit augmented reality game “Pokémon Go,” in a deal valued at $3.5 billion, the companies announced Wednesday.
The deal will add several popular titles to Scopely’s portfolio, including “Pikmin Bloom” and “Monster Hunter Now.” San Francisco-based Niantic’s gaming division has more than 30 million monthly active users and generated $1 billion in revenue in 2024, according to Scopely.
“Pokémon Go” remains Niantic’s flagship title, continuing to attract a massive player base nearly a decade after its 2016 debut. The game drew more than 100 million unique players last year and maintains a steady 20 million weekly active users, according to the companies.
“Few games in the world have delivered the scale and longevity of `Pokémon GO,”’ Tim O’Brien, chief revenue officer of Scopely, said in a statement. “The experience also stands apart for its unique ability to foster in-person connections, with `Pokémon Go’ live events attracting millions of attendees.”
The game allows players to capture and battle digital creatures overlaid on the real world using augmented reality. “Pokémon Go” has consistently ranked among the top 10 mobile games each year since its release.
Niantic’s games will join Scopely’s lineup of mobile titles, which includes “Scrabble Go,” “WWE Champions” and “Monopoly Go!”
Niantic will retain its technology and transition it into a new company, Niantic Spatial Inc., which will focus on developing artificial intelligence to help machines interact with the real world, according to a statement on its website.