Niantic, the developer behind the immensely popular augmented reality 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, the acquisition would encompass Pokémon Go, the game that has revolutionized mobile gaming by encouraging players to explore the real world in search of Pokémon.
Sources close to the matter, speaking anonymously to Bloomberg, indicated that while the deal is not yet finalized, an announcement could be forthcoming within weeks. Both Niantic and Scopely, along with Savvy Games Group, have refrained from making any public statements regarding the potential acquisition.
This move comes on the heels of Savvy Games Group's acquisition of Scopely in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, a transaction that followed the Saudi Arabian government's declaration of intent to purchase a leading games publisher. Scopely is known for its successful mobile titles, including The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.
Additionally, Savvy Gaming Group bolstered its portfolio in 2022 by acquiring two of the world's largest esports organizations, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined $1.5 billion.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has articulated a vision to position Saudi Arabia as a premier global hub for the gaming and esports industry 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," he stated, underscoring the strategic importance of these acquisitions in achieving broader economic and entertainment goals.
