Niantic, the creator of Pokémon Go, announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its gaming division to Scopely for $3.5 billion. Scopely, a company backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, plans to integrate Niantic’s staff and absorb its gaming operations. Pokémon Go, a popular augmented reality mobile game, has amassed millions of weekly active players since its release in 2016. The deal is part of Saudi Arabia’s multibillion-dollar investment in the video game industry. Scopely was also acquired for $4.9 billion in 2023 by Savvy Games Group, a company launched by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund to lead its push into video games, including e-sports. The fund manages nearly a trillion dollars in assets and invests in various industries to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy. Some critics argue that Saudi Arabia’s investments in sports and video games are aimed at improving the country’s reputation, particularly regarding human rights.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/world/middleeast/pokemon-go-niantic-scopely-sale.html