Scopely acquired Niantic’s games business, including Pokémon GO. The deal was announced on March 12, 2025, at a stated value of $3.5 billion and closed on May 29, 2025. Pokémon GO’s team said it would stay together and its partnership with The Pokémon Company would continue, but that does not mean the game’s future plans are guaranteed to remain unchanged.
Who owns Pokémon GO now?
Scopely acquired the Niantic games business that included Pokémon GO. The transaction closed on May 29, 2025, according to Scopely’s official closing update. Niantic’s games team later took the name Scopely Explore, a change announced on the official Pokémon GO site in 2026.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pokémon GO Plus + | $144.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pokémon GO Plus + | $124.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pokemon Go Plus + | $149.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Silicone Case for Poke Go Plus + (2023), Go Plus Plus Cover Case with Strap, Soft Protective Case... | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon |
This was a purchase of Niantic’s games business, not the Pokémon franchise itself or every Niantic asset. The Pokémon GO transition note described The Pokémon Company partnership as continuing; it did not say Scopely acquired that company or the Pokémon brand.
When did the ownership change?
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 12, 2025 | Scopely announced an agreement to acquire Niantic’s games business at a stated value of $3.5 billion. |
| May 29, 2025 | Scopely announced that the transaction had closed. |
| 2026 | The Pokémon GO team announced that the Niantic games team had officially updated its name to Scopely Explore. |
The $3.5 billion figure is the value Scopely gave when it announced the agreement, not a new estimate of the company’s present value.
#1 Best Overall
- The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
What did Scopely acquire?
Scopely said the acquisition included Niantic’s games business, its development teams, and these games and services:
- Pokémon GO
- Pikmin Bloom
- Monster Hunter Now
- Campfire
- Wayfarer
Niantic’s technology platform was separated into Niantic Spatial. Scopely said that Ingress Prime and Peridot would remain with Niantic Spatial. The deal therefore moved a defined games business rather than all of Niantic’s operations.
Rank #2
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Did Pokémon GO’s team and partnership change?
When the transition was announced, Ed Wu, identified as Pokémon GO’s team lead, said the team would stay together and that the partnership with The Pokémon Company would continue. The official Pokémon GO announcement in 2026 said, “The Pokémon GO team remains the same,” as the wider games team adopted the Scopely Explore name. These are company statements about the transition and team continuity, not guarantees about future staffing or business decisions.
Wu also cautioned against assuming the game would simply be frozen in place: “I won’t say that Pokémon GO will remain the same, because it has always been a work in progress.” Ownership changed, but the available statements do not establish that the acquisition caused any particular gameplay change.
Rank #3
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
What does the change mean for players?
The immediate confirmed change is organizational: Pokémon GO became part of Scopely’s games business, and the former Niantic games team now uses the name Scopely Explore. The statements about the team and The Pokémon Company partnership point to continuity at the time they were made; they do not predict every future update, feature, or staffing decision.
Scopely’s March 2025 announcement reported more than 100 million unique Pokémon GO players in 2024, as well as more than 20 million weekly active players and reach across more than 190 countries and regions. These are company-reported figures; the announcement did not specify a measurement period for the weekly-active figure in the cited passage. Scopely also reported more than 30 million monthly active players across the acquired Niantic games business and more than $1 billion in revenue for that business in 2024. Its announcement noted that revenue comparisons were based on Sensor Tower (formerly Data.ai) estimates; that note does not establish the methodology for every player figure.
Rank #4
- Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
- Premium Silicone Material for Comfort & Safety: Crafted from high-quality silicone, this case delivers a soft, pleasant touch while shielding your Poke GO Plus+ from scratches, dirt, and daily wear.
- Portable Design with Wrist Strap: The built-in hand strap allows you to wear the case on your wrist, ensuring easy portability and hands-free convenience during outdoor adventures.
- Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
- Package: Silicone Case x1; Hand strap x1. If you need any support please feel free to contact us.
Does the ownership change affect player data?
The current Scopely Explore privacy policy says personal data may include a player profile, in-game actions and achievements, and real-world locations associated with gameplay. It also says information may be disclosed or transferred to an acquirer in a business transaction. That general policy language does not establish exactly which data moved in the 2025 transaction or the transfer details that apply in every jurisdiction.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
