Niantic, the developer behind the wildly popular augmented-reality mobile game Pokémon Go, is reportedly in discussions to sell its video game division to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, for a staggering $3.5 billion. As initially reported by Bloomberg, this potential deal would encompass Pokémon Go, a game that has captivated millions by blending the digital and real worlds, encouraging players to venture out and capture Pokémon.
According to a source who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously, the transaction is not yet finalized but could be confirmed within weeks if all parties give their approval. Both Niantic and Scopely, along with Savvy Games Group, have chosen not to comment publicly on the speculated acquisition.
Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, is known for publishing successful mobile games such as The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go. This acquisition came on the heels of the Saudi Arabian government's announcement of their intent to purchase "a leading games publisher."
Savvy Games Group has also been active in the esports arena, having bought two of the largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for $1.5 billion in 2022. This move aligns with the broader strategy 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 goals of this initiative, 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.”
