Niantic Discusses Future of Pokémon Go Following Sale to Scopely
Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon Go, recently spoke about the game’s future amid its anticipated sale to Scopely, the company behind Monopoly Go, in a deal valued at $3.5 billion and backed by the Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group.
Interview Highlights with Michael Steranka
In an extensive video interview with popular Pokémon Go YouTuber TrainerTips, Senior Product Director Michael Steranka addressed key concerns from the game’s large player community regarding the sale.
Concerns Over Advertising and Data Privacy
When questioned about the possibility of introducing in-game ads to boost revenue or sharing player locations with Scopely or Savvy, Steranka firmly denied these possibilities. “That will never happen, I’m stating that here and now,” he asserted regarding in-game pop-up advertising.
Data Protection Reassured
Steranka clarified that player data, such as scanned locations, will continue to be shared with Niantic even post-sale, but it will remain within the company’s US servers. He emphasized that all player data collected is fully encrypted and anonymized solely for game operation purposes, adhering to regulatory standards for data safety. “None of that is changing,” he assured.
Market Strategy and Company Structure
Speaking on the strategic context of the deal, Steranka revealed that the sale had been in consideration for some time and aimed to separate Niantic’s gaming and location mapping sectors. He noted that this separation would help focus on enhancing Pokémon Go without conflicting priorities arising from differing business areas.
Future Development of Pokémon Go
Steranka expressed optimism about the sale benefitting Pokémon Go, stating it would allow more focused design efforts on improving the game. While the development team would maintain creative autonomy, the emphasis on player contributions through scanning will lessen.
Insights into Future Monetization
Discussing future monetization strategies for Pokémon Go, Steranka indicated that Scopely appreciates the current successful revenue model of the game, which relies on many players making smaller purchases rather than a few spending large amounts. He concluded that the sale to Scopely would result in fewer complications regarding shareholder interactions.
Earlier this month, Niantic confirmed its decision to sell Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom along with Pokémon Go to Scopely. This news has raised concerns among fans about the future direction of the game as it approaches its 10th anniversary in 2026, where it currently boasts over 20 million weekly active players, averaging about 40 minutes of gameplay each day.
