REPORT: Pokemon Go Just Sold For Billions Of Dollars

A vendor displays signs for a Pokemon Go Tournament
A vendor displays signs for a Pokemon Go Tournament (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

Last month, it was reported that Pokemon Go developer Niantic was in talks to sell its video game division to Saudi-owned Scopely for billions.

Weeks went by with no word. That all changed this week.

Niantic revealed on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its video game business for $3.5 billion to Scopely, a company owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Scopely will now acquire franchises like Pokemon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now into its portfolio in a deal that reshapes the mobile video game landscape.

Scopely is already well known since it is behind several major mobile games, including franchises like Monopoly Go!, Star Trek Fleet Command, and Marvel Strike Force.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scopely will acquire Niantic’s companion apps and services, Campfire and Wayfarer, in addition to the games.

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Tens of millions of people around the world will still be able to go to streets, parks, beaches, and even the middle of the ocean to capture monsters from the Japanese cartoon franchise.

However, many gamers are bracing for a new tier of microtransaction hell.

Reddit user Lox22, who is a longtime Marvel Strike Force player, said this: “As someone who played Marvel Strike Force at launch and then played it after being bought by Scopely, I can say confidently they will make it pay to win, and any new game breaking changes will take eons to be fixed if ever. This game is entering its death knell.”

Pokemon Go Made A Ton During The 2020 Global Pandemic

Since its launch in 2016, Pokemon Go has centered on roaming the outdoors in search of mystical little creatures.

Things looked rather bleak in 2020 due to pandemic-derived restrictions on movement.

However, Pokémon Go developer Niantic had a plan as they rolled out regular updates to make the game more quarantine-compatible as they simply adapted.

They converted almost all their massive “meet-up” events to be solely digital, making them rewarding and fun.

It became an incredible success story.

Pokemon Go made an estimated $1.92 billion in 2020, according to SuperData.

Also Read: Two Well-Known Pokemon Scalpers Caught Brawling Over Vending Machine Restock