Scopely Acquires Niantic’s Games Division Including Pokemon GO
Scopely to integrate Pokemon GO and Niantic’s team in $3.5B deal
Elena Whitmore 
On March 12, 2025, Scopely, a major name in the mobile gaming industry, announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the games business of Niantic for $3.5 billion. The deal includes popular mobile titles such as Pokemon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, as well as companion platforms Campfire and Wayfarer. The acquisition brings Niantic's full game development teams into Scopely’s fold, under the continued leadership of Kei Kawai and Ed Wu.
Massive user base and global reach absorbed into Scopely's structure
Niantic’s games reached more than 30 million monthly active users and generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Among the titles, Pokemon GO continues to perform strongly nearly a decade after its launch. In 2024, the game surpassed 100 million unique players and remained among the top 10 mobile games globally. According to data shared by the companies, Pokemon GO players—referred to as Trainers—logged more than 30 billion miles in exploration, and roughly half the user base interacts with the game on a daily basis.
Scopely plans to maintain each title’s development trajectory. “Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organization is one of the best in the world at this endeavor,” said Tim O’Brien, Scopely's Chief Revenue Officer and Board Member.
Key mobile titles and companion apps now under Scopely
Originally released in 2021, Pikmin Bloom, developed in partnership with Nintendo, reached record engagement last year, with players contributing 3.94 trillion steps in 2024 and gathering for live events across Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and the United States.
Monster Hunter Now, launched in September 2023, attracted 15 million downloads within seven months and hosted its first large-scale event in Shibuya, Japan, attended by more than 20,000 participants.
In addition to games, Scopely has also acquired Campfire and Wayfarer, two social applications that strengthen real-world community engagement. In 2024, Campfire saw over 6 million check-ins, while Wayfarer users added more than 11.5 million new locations to enhance gameplay across various Niantic titles.
Niantic restructures with new company Niantic Spatial Inc.
Following the deal, Niantic will spin off its technology platform into Niantic Spatial Inc., a separate entity focused on geospatial AI. The new company will be led by John Hanke and will continue to operate Ingress Prime and Peridot, two titles that remain outside of the Scopely transaction.
Commenting on the move, John Hanke, Niantic’s CEO, stated that Scopely is well-positioned to support these live services long-term, adding: “Scopely shares our focus on building and operating incredible live services, has exceptional experience working with the world's biggest and most beloved intellectual properties, and cares deeply about its player communities and game-making teams.”
Ed Wu, SVP of Pokemon GO, also emphasized the shared vision, saying, “Our mission remains clear: to inspire people to discover Pokemon in the real world together. With Scopely’s full commitment, experience, and resources, we're going to make Pokemon GO the very best it can be.”
This acquisition will bring more than 2,300 Scopely employees together with Niantic's game teams across Asia, North America, Central America, and EMEA, marking a significant restructuring in the mobile gaming landscape.
