The video game development business of Pokmon Go developer Niantic is being acquired by Scopely. According to GamesBeat, The deal is valued at $3.5 billion, and will include all of the various titles that Niantic has worked on so far, including Pokmon Go, Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now.Scopely, known for making Monopoly Go, will also be acquiring other Niantic-run services and companion apps like Campfire and Wayfarer.Pokmon Go has by far been Niantic biggest game; as of 2024, the game boasted more than 100 million unique players. The game has reportedly maintained a player base of more than 20 million monthly active users. As a whole, Niantic reported more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024.According to the announcement, the studios acquired by Scopely will continue to run their games and follow their planned content roadmaps. Studio leads Kei Kawai and Ed Wu will also be making the jump to work on the titles under Scopely.Scopely has always been focused on cultivating meaningful communities through a shared love of play, and the Niantic games organization is one of the best in the world at this endeavour, said Scopelys chief revenue officer and board member Tim OBrien in a statement. We are extremely inspired by what the team has built over the last decade, delivering innovative experiences that captivate a vast, enduring global audience and get people out in the real world.We look forward to further accelerating the teams creativity through our partnership. Few games in the world have delivered the scale and longevity of Pokmon Go, which reached over 100 million players just last year.OBrien also spoke about how Scopely will continue to run things as they have been going for popular titles like Pokmon Go, mentioning its live events.The experience also stands apart for its unique ability to foster in-person connections, with Pokmon Go live events attracting millions of attendees, he said. After spending time with the Niantic team, it quickly became clear that this organization shares our inclination to create industry-leading outcomes and exceptional player experiences. We look forward to a bright future ahead.After the acquisition goes through, Niantic plans on spinning off its technology-based holdings into an entirely new company, dubbed Niantic Spatial Inc. This entity will have Niantic founder and CEO John Hanke at its helm, and will focus its efforts on being what it refers to as a geospatial AI company.Interestingly, while the licensed games business will be acquired by Scopely, Niantic will continue to work on its own AR games, namely Ingress Prime and Peridot. Development on these titles will continue.Capping off the announcement has been Scopelys statement to players of Pokmon Go, Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now. In this statement, the company talks about respecting the games, and wanting to allow its developers the freedom to continue developing them.We have long admired the innovative gameplay pioneered by the Niantic games team and the vibrant communities that have shaped the titles into the beloved xperiences they are today. We deeply respect what makes these games special the freedom to explore, the community forged along the way, and the thrill of discovery, Scopely said in its statement. We believe our partnership with the Niantic games team who will all join Scopely through this acquisition will further enable them to achieve their exciting long-term goals, which are designed first and foremost with you in mind.