Niantic, the developer behind the wildly popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go, is reportedly in discussions to sell its video game division to the Saudi-owned company Scopely for a staggering $3.5 billion. As first reported by Bloomberg, this potential deal could see Pokémon Go, which has captivated millions by sending players into the real world to capture Pokémon, change hands in the near future.
According to a source who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, the transaction is not yet finalized but could be confirmed within weeks if all parties agree. Niantic, Scopely, and its parent company, Savvy Games Group, have all chosen to remain silent on the matter, withholding public comments on the speculated acquisition.
This move comes on the heels of Savvy Games Group's acquisition of Scopely in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, following the Saudi Arabian government's declaration of intent to purchase "a leading games publisher." Scopely is known for its successful mobile titles such as The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.
Savvy Games Group has also made significant investments in the esports industry, having acquired two of the world's largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined $1.5 billion in 2022. These strategic moves align with the ambitious vision outlined by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who stated, “Savvy Games Group is one part of our ambitious strategy aiming to make Saudi Arabia the ultimate global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030.”
The Crown Prince further emphasized the broader economic and innovation goals, saying, “We are harnessing the untapped potential across the esports and games sector to diversify our economy, drive innovation in the sector, and further scale the entertainment and esports competition offerings across the Kingdom.”
