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

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. According to Bloomberg, the potential deal is valued at $3.5 billion and would include the iconic Pokémon Go, which has captivated millions of players worldwide by blending the digital and physical worlds through the thrill of Pokémon hunting.

A source, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, mentioned that while the negotiations are ongoing and the deal is not finalized, an announcement could be imminent if all parties give their approval. Niantic, Scopely, and Savvy Games Group have all remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the speculated acquisition.

Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for a staggering $4.9 billion, is known for publishing successful mobile games such as The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go. This acquisition followed the Saudi government's announcement of its intent to invest in a leading games publisher. Additionally, Savvy Games Group has been expanding its footprint in the gaming industry by purchasing two major esports entities, ESL and FACEIT, for $1.5 billion in 2022.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz outlined the country's vision for the gaming sector, 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.”