Niantic, the developer behind the wildly 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, this potential acquisition would encompass Pokémon Go, which has captivated players worldwide by blending the digital and physical realms in a quest to capture Pokémon.
An anonymous source speaking to Bloomberg indicated that while the deal is not finalized, it could be confirmed within weeks if all parties give their approval. Niantic, Scopely, and Savvy Games Group have chosen to remain silent on the matter, withholding any official comments on the rumored acquisition.
The potential buyer, Scopely, was itself acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion. This acquisition followed the Saudi Arabian government's announcement of its intention to purchase a leading games publisher. Scopely boasts a portfolio of successful mobile games, including The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.
Savvy Games Group has been aggressively expanding its influence in the gaming industry. In 2022, the group acquired two of the world's top esports organizations, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined total of $1.5 billion.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz outlined the vision behind these strategic moves, 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.”
