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. According to Bloomberg, this potential deal would encompass Pokémon Go, which has captivated millions of players worldwide by encouraging them to explore the real world in search of virtual Pokémon.
A source, who spoke to Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity, indicated that while the deal is not yet finalized, it could be confirmed within weeks if all parties agree. Neither Niantic, Scopely, nor Savvy Games Group have made public comments regarding the reported acquisition.
This news comes on the heels of Savvy Games Group's acquisition of Scopely in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, following the Saudi Arabian government's announcement of its intent to purchase "a leading games publisher." Scopely is known for its successful mobile titles such as The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.
Savvy Gaming Group has also made significant moves in the esports industry, having acquired two of the world's largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined $1.5 billion in 2022. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has articulated a vision for the country to become a global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030, stating, “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. 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.”
