Big changes are coming to the mobile gaming world. Pokémon Go, one of the most popular games ever, is now owned by the Saudi government.
Niantic Labs, the original developer, has sold Pokémon Go, along with Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom, to Scopely for $3.5 billion. Scopely is a mobile gaming company backed by the Saudi-owned Savvy Games investment group, which bought Scopely in 2023.
Pokémon Go launched in 2016 and quickly became a hit. It allowed millions of people to experience the thrill of catching virtual Pokémon in real-world locations.
At its peak, it was one of the most popular and profitable mobile games, with over $6 billion in revenue by 2020 and more than a billion downloads by 2019. The game still has an estimated 100 million monthly active players.
This deal is part of Saudi Arabia’s growing investments in gaming, including stakes in big companies like Nintendo and Electronic Arts. However, the $3.5 billion sale isn’t final yet, as it still needs to pass regulatory approval.
If approved, this will be one of the biggest gaming acquisitions in recent years. How Pokémon Go will evolve under its new owners remains to be seen. Stay tuned for more updates.
