Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to acquire Niantic's gaming division for $3.5 billion, through its subsidiary Scopely.

According to Scopely’s announcement, the deal includes Pokémon Go, the hit augmented reality game that still boasts 30 million monthly players nearly a decade after its launch.

The acquisition is part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing push to expand its gaming industry, where it has already invested billions. Niantic's other games, such as Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom, are also included, along with the teams behind them. These assets will become part of Scopely Inc, a major mobile gaming company that PIF subsidiary Savvy Games Group acquired for $4.9 billion in 2023.

Scopely is known for its success with Monopoly Go, which has surpassed 50 million downloads and generated over $3 billion in revenue.

Pokémon itself remains jointly owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, with Niantic licensed to develop Pokémon Go.

Ed Wu, head of the Pokémon Go team at Niantic, described the sale as "a positive step" for the game's future. He said: "Pokémon Go is more than just a game to me, it's my life's work," he said. "I hope we can make the experience even better."

Saudi Arabia's influence in gaming continues to grow. The PIF has built significant stakes in major publishers like Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Take-Two Interactive. The kingdom has also made its mark in eSports, hosting major tournaments including the eSports World Cup, which featured a $60 million prize pool.