Niantic, the developer behind the wildly popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go, is reportedly in advanced talks to sell its video game division to Scopely, a Saudi-owned gaming company, for a staggering $3.5 billion. Bloomberg first reported the news, citing an anonymous source who indicated that while the deal isn't finalized, a confirmation could arrive within weeks if everything proceeds as planned.
Niantic, Scopely, and Savvy Games Group (Scopely's parent company) have all declined to comment publicly on the potential acquisition.
The reported sale would encompass Pokémon Go, the flagship title that propelled Niantic to global recognition and redefined mobile gaming with its innovative blend of augmented reality and location-based gameplay.
This potential acquisition follows Scopely's own acquisition by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion—a move that came after the Saudi Arabian government publicly declared its intention to acquire a leading games publisher. Scopely boasts a diverse portfolio of successful mobile games, including titles like The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.
Adding to its impressive acquisitions, Savvy Games Group also purchased ESL and FACEIT, two prominent esports companies, for a combined $1.5 billion in 2022. This aggressive expansion aligns with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz's broader vision: to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global hub for the gaming and esports industry by 2030, diversifying the nation's economy and fostering innovation within the sector.
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