Reports suggest that Niantic Inc., the company behind the popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go, is in discussions to sell its video game division to Scopely Inc., owned by Saudi Arabian Savvy Games Group, in a deal valued at $3.5 billion.

The sale itself includes not only Pokémon Go, but also any other of Niantic's mobile gaming titles. When Pokémon Go was first released in 2016, Niantic won fame through its leading position in the video game market, which achieved over 500 million global downloads. The company has experienced multiple setbacks through project terminations and workforce reductions because of the delayed AR market development and the effects of COVID-19.

Scopely Inc., which operates Monopoly Go, Marvel Strike Force, and Star Trek Fleet Command, stands as the prospective buyer. The monetization techniques used by these games have sparked worries among Pokémon Go players, who fear that new ownership could introduce pay-to-win elements into the game.

The transaction remains in discussion state because the finalization of the deal has not occurred yet. The gaming community remains observant about the situation since the potential changes in Pokémon Go and Niantic's gaming projects will significantly impact their future.

FAQs

Is Pokémon Go shutting down?

This report doesn't mean that Pokémon Go is shutting down, though a new owner of Scopely may become the new owner of Pokémon Go.

Will Niantic continue to be involved with Pokémon Go?

Niantic may reorient and concentrate on the development of AR instead of direct control of the game.

What does Scopely's involvement mean for the game?

Players worry that the game will be subjected to aggressive monetization. Scopely is famous for that.

When will the sale be confirmed?

Discussions are still ongoing, and officially, there is no confirmation.