Pokémon Go: Niantic reportedly in talks to sell games division to Saudi-owned firm
Pokémon Go and Monster Hunter Now could soon be operted by the Saudi-backed Savvy Games Group
Mobile developer Niantic is reportedly in talks to sell its gaming division (which includes the mobile hits Pokémon Go and Monster Hunter Now) to Scopely, part of the Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group.
It’s reported that the deal, which could reach $3.5 billion, may close in the coming weeks, but it’s also said there is currently “no assurance an agreement will be reached”.
Niantic‘s main gaming asset, Pokémon Go, would be included in the deal. The game, which is one of the most successful mobile titles of all time, allows players to catch Pokémon by walking around real-life locations.
The game uses Google mapping technology to determine where Pokémon spawn in-game. Niantic has attempted to recreate the success of Pokémon Go with other brands, such as the now-defunct Harry Potter Wizards Unite, and the currently active Monster Hunter Now.
It’s unclear how such a sale would impact the company’s licensing rights with both The Pokémon Company and Capcom, but Bloomberg claims its gaming titles would be included in the deal, rather than just the team behind them.
Further reading
Scopely is a mobile gaming firm that was acquired in 2023 by the Savvy Games group for just shy of $5billion dollars. Savvy Games is one arm of the Saudi Public Investment fund (PIF).
The PIF, which has made a series of investments in the video games industry in recent years, is reportedly central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s goal of making the Saudi economy less reliant on proceeds from oil.
The fund acquired a 5.01% stake in Nintendo in May 2022. As of mid-2024 this had grown to 8.58% of the company, but late last year the fund reduced its investment to 7.54%, a move which still makes it one of Nintendo‘s largest shareholders.
