- Niantic is reportedly in talks to sell its video game division, including Pokémon Go, to Saudi-owned Scopely for $3.5 billion.
- Scopely, acquired by Savvy Games Group in 2023 for $4.9 billion, has a portfolio of popular mobile games like Stumble Guys and Marvel Strike Force.
- Saudi Arabia aims to become a global gaming hub by 2030, with major investments in game development, mobile gaming, and esports.
Pokémon Go developer Niantic is reportedly negotiating the sale of its video game division to Scopely, a mobile gaming company owned by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group. The potential deal, estimated at $3.5 billion, could see Niantic’s augmented-reality hit, Pokémon Go, change hands, according to reports first published by Bloomberg.
While discussions are ongoing, sources familiar with the matter suggest that an agreement could be finalized within weeks if approved. Neither Niantic nor Scopely has issued a public statement regarding the reported sale, and Savvy Games Group has also remained silent on the matter. The deal would mark a significant shift for Niantic, which pioneered location-based gaming with Pokémon Go, attracting millions of players worldwide.
Scopely, acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, has built a strong portfolio of mobile games, including The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go. The acquisition aligned with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the global gaming industry by investing in major publishers and developers.
Beyond mobile gaming, Savvy Games Group has been actively expanding its footprint in esports, having acquired ESL and FACEIT—two of the industry’s largest competitive gaming platforms—for a combined $1.5 billion in 2022. These acquisitions are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader plan to become a dominant force in the gaming and esports sector by 2030.
Saudi officials have previously outlined ambitions to make the country a global hub for gaming and esports, aiming to boost economic diversification and drive innovation in the industry. If the reported deal with Niantic goes through, it would represent another major step toward solidifying the nation’s growing influence in the gaming world.
