Niantic Reportedly in Talks With Scopely Over Pokémon Go

The sale of Pokémon Go, which Scopely and Niantic are allegedly negotiating, is said to be worth $3.5 billion. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The potential sale of Pokémon Go, as reported by Bloomberg, has sparked strong reactions within the gaming industry. The prospective buyer, Scopely, a U.S.-based mobile gaming company known for hits like Monopoly Go! and Stumble Guys, is part of the Savvy Games Group since 2023 (in German). The group is largely owned by the Saudi Arabian investment fund PIF and plays a central role in Saudi Arabia's strategy to position itself as a major force in the global gaming industry through substantial investments in publishers and esports.

So far, there has been no official confirmation that Scopely and Niantic, the developer and publisher of Pokémon Go, are engaged in sales talks or considering a deal. The reported $3.5 billion valuation, mentioned by Bloomberg, also remains unverified. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, which as licensors may have a say in the matter, have not yet commented. However, a veto appears unlikely—Savvy Gaming Group is one of Nintendo's largest shareholders after Saudi Arabia’s PIF transferred all its gaming-related holdings to Savvy. The group also holds significant stakes in EA, Embracer, Nexon, and Capcom.

Another key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s gaming strategy is the Esports World Cup and its organizing body, the Esports World Cup Foundation. The foundation is also involved in organizing the first Olympic Esports Games, scheduled to take place in 2027. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signed a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia in the field of esports.