Niantic in Talks to Sell to Saudi-Owned Firm Behind Stumble Guys

Niantic, the developer behind the immensely popular augmented-reality mobile game Pokémon Go, is reportedly in negotiations to sell its video game division to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, for a staggering $3.5 billion. This development, first reported by Bloomberg, suggests that the sale would encompass Pokémon Go, which has captivated millions of players worldwide by encouraging them to explore the real world in search of virtual Pokémon.

According to a source who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously, the deal is not finalized yet, but if it receives the green light, it could be officially announced within weeks. Neither Niantic, Scopely, nor Savvy Games Group have issued any public statements regarding the potential acquisition.

Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion, is known for publishing several successful mobile games, including The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go. The acquisition of Scopely followed a statement from the Saudi Arabian government expressing its intent to purchase "a leading games publisher."

Savvy Games Group has also made significant moves in the esports industry, having purchased two of the largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined $1.5 billion in 2022. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz highlighted the strategic vision behind these acquisitions, 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.”

The Crown Prince further elaborated on the broader goals, saying, “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.”