In a deal that will shake up the mobile gaming market, Pokémon Go development team Niantic have been sold to mobile gaming giant Scopely, known for their Monopoly Go! game amongst others. This is a landmark sale in the industry, as Pokémon Go was such a giant success for both Niantic and The Pokémon Company for such a long time. The change of hands after almost a decade since its release marks a significant reshaping of the potential future of Pokémon Go.
Reactions to the sale online by fans have been mostly negative, although inspired by already lessening faith in the game after Niantic made a series of controversial decisions with Pokémon Go‘s monetization. The sale to Scopely has some fans worried that these monetization moves will increase even further, and alienate players who aren’t willing to spend. There’s absolutely no confirmation that such measures will be taken at present though, with Scopely themselves stating that “these will remain the experiences you know and love” in their official message to the community.
Along with Pokémon Go, the sale also includes other Niantic Games Team titles and the teams behind them, such as Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, along with the companion services Campfire and Wayfarer. The gigantic deal will now see Scopely responsible for future developments on these titles, known for their own giant games like Monopoly Go!, Marvel Strike Force annd Star Trek Fleet Command.
How do you feel about the Niantic teams and their games such as Pokémon Go changing hands? Would you be interested in seeing the future of these games under Scopely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news and industry coverage.
