Scopely has recently announced a significant acquisition of Niantic, bringing some of the most prominent names in augmented reality gaming under its umbrella. This business deal is valued at a staggering $3.5 billion. Among the notable titles transitioning to Scopely are Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. Pokémon GO, despite being nearly a decade old, continues to thrive with over 100 million unique players in 2024 alone, maintaining its position in the top 10 mobile games every year since its 2016 launch.
Pikmin Bloom, launched by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo in 2021, encourages players to plant virtual flowers as they walk. The game experienced a surge in popularity in 2024, with players logging an impressive 3.94 trillion steps last year. Additionally, in-person events in Japan, the U.S., and Germany attracted thousands of fans, showcasing the game's strong community engagement.
Monster Hunter Now, Niantic's latest addition, launched in September 2023 and has already surpassed 15 million downloads. Alongside the games, Niantic's development teams and companion apps like Campfire and Wayfarer will also transition to Scopely. Campfire facilitates player connections for real-world gameplay, while Wayfarer enables mapping new locations for Niantic games. In 2024, over six million players attended in-person events through Campfire, and Wayfarer has added more than 11.5 million new location points since its inception in 2019.
What Does the Scopely and Niantic Deal Mean for Players?
For players, the immediate impact of the acquisition appears minimal. Scopely boasts an impressive portfolio that includes games like MONOPOLY GO!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek Fleet Command, and MARVEL Strike Force, suggesting that Niantic's games will continue to flourish under their new management. Scopely has committed to providing additional resources to the development team and introducing new experiences, such as enhanced AR interactions, to Niantic's titles. It will be fascinating to see how these enhancements unfold in the near future.
In the meantime, don't miss out on Pokémon GO's Festival of Colors, available on the Google Play Store. Also, be sure to catch up on our latest news regarding KartRider Rush+ and its exciting Season 31 featuring Journey to the West.
