Niantic
Niantic business and news from across the web.- Mario Kart Tour Will Be Unplayable After Nintendo Shuts It Down In SeptemberNintendo will shut down its mobile game Mario Kart Tour on September 29, ending its service after seven years. The company has suspended in-game purchases and will make subscription perks free for the remaining months. While Mario Kart Tour will become unplayable, other Nintendo mobile titles like Pikmin Bloom, Super Mario Run, and Fire Emblem Heroes remain active.
Pokemon Go 10th Anniversary Twitch Drop DetailsPokemon Go is celebrating its 10th anniversary with special Twitch drops for players who tune into a broadcast on July 9, 2026. Viewers can earn various in-game items such as Rare Candies, Pokeballs, and Lucky Eggs, which will be beneficial for the upcoming GO Fest Global event.- Pokemon GO developer Niantic has new name and new logoNiantic, the developer of Pokemon GO, has been renamed Scopely Explore following its acquisition by Savvy Games Group subsidiary, Scopely. The company will continue its operations as usual ahead of Pokemon GO's 10th anniversary.
Ingress developer Niantic Spatial shuttering New Zealand officeNiantic Spatial is closing its office in New Zealand and laying off employees as it shifts focus from video games to enterprise markets. The company, which was spun out of Niantic Inc. after the sale of its video game business, had secured significant funding to develop an AI-powered geospatial model. While it continues to operate the AR title Ingress, it discontinued the virtual pet app Peridot in April 2026.
Saudi Arabia-owned Scopely continues its mobile investment spree with Umamusame: Pretty Derby director's new company Studio AuKnowMobile gaming giant Scopely has made a strategic investment into Studio AuKnow, a new company founded by the former director of the popular mobile game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. This investment is part of Scopely's ongoing commitment to the Japanese market and broader Saudi Arabian efforts to invest in the growing mobile gaming sector.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Robert Henrysson steps down as Supermassive Games CEOSeveral key personnel changes have occurred in the gaming industry. Robert Henrysson has stepped down as CEO of Supermassive Games and partner at Nordisk Games. Christopher Serra joins Paramount Games as VP of business development and licensing, while Alexis Bonte departs as CEO of Stillfront. Nicholas Penwarden also leaves Epic Games after 15 years.
The Sunday PapersThis article rounds up several gaming-related news items and discussions. It covers how Pokémon Go data might be used for military drone training, developers discussing the creation of discovery in games, concerns about generative AI's impact on the tech industry, and an oral history of the game Spore. Additionally, it touches on gamification and data collection in relation to word puzzles and a review of C. Thi Nguyen's book 'The Score'.- No, Pokémon Go Data Isn't Being Used to Train Military Drones, Niantic Spatial InsistsNiantic has denied claims that location data collected from its game Pokémon Go is being used to train military drones. The company insists that player data is not being utilized for such purposes.
Pokémon GO scan controversy resurfaces after Niantic Spatial defense partnershipConcerns have resurfaced regarding Niantic's use of player-scanned data from Pokémon GO, following a partnership between its geospatial division, Niantic Spatial, and defense technology company Vantor. While no direct evidence links Pokémon GO scan data to military systems, Niantic Spatial's Visual Positioning System, trained on billions of player scans, is being integrated into navigation technology for GPS-denied environments, raising ethical questions about the repurposing of consumer-generated data for potential defense applications.
Pokémon Go data was used to help train AI systems being developed for military dronesData collected from the mobile game Pokémon Go is being used to train AI systems for military drones. Niantic Spatial, a division formed after Savvy Games Group acquired Niantic's gaming business, partnered with Vantor to develop a positioning solution for GPS-denied environments, utilizing ground scans from Pokémon Go as part of the AI training data. This development raises ethical concerns about the indirect contribution of players to military applications.- Dutch journalists show Pokemon Go player data are being used for military drone softwareDutch journalists have reported that data collected from Pokemon Go players, amounting to approximately 30 billion area scans since 2021, is allegedly being used by Niantic Spatial and Vantor to develop software for military drones. Vantor's software suite, Vantor Raptor, utilizes visual positioning systems to enable drone operation during electronic countermeasures, with a partnership announced in December 2025 to ensure functionality during GPS unavailability. Niantic, which sold Pokemon Go and its Niantic Spatial studio to Scopely in 2025, has a history of privacy controversies.
- Data from Pokemon GO players is now used to train US military dronesData collected from Pokemon GO players, including scans of streets, parks, and buildings, is now being utilized by the US military to train its drones. Niantic Spatial owns this real-world spatial data gathered through the game.
Report: Pokemon Go video scans may have been used for AI drone trainingA report indicates that scans made by Pokémon Go players may have been sold to a military drone technology company, Vantor, through Niantic Spatial. These video scans are reportedly used to train a 3D navigation system for drones and robots, though Vantor denies using Pokémon Go data directly. Niantic stated that player data has not been sold and that their products are used responsibly.- Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go gets worse as it hurtles towards 10th anniversary Go FestThis article discusses the perceived decline in quality and player engagement for Pokemon Go, particularly as it approaches its 10th anniversary. The author highlights changes to the Mega Evolution system, the removal of Spotlight Hour, and other feature alterations by developers Niantic and Scopely, suggesting these decisions have alienated the player base and led to decreased participation in community events.
- Pokemon GO: Forever Forward season debuts Mega Raichu X & YThe Pokemon GO: Forever Forward season has launched, introducing Mega Raichu's two Mega Evolutions to Niantic's mobile game. This update precedes the upcoming Pokemon GO Fest event.
- Mega Falinks Pokemon Go Raids: Weaknesses, Best Counters, And Best MovesetPokemon Go is introducing Mega Falinks in Super Mega Raids starting May 23rd. This guide details Mega Falinks' weaknesses to flying, psychic, and fairy-type attacks, recommends counters like Zapdos and Mega Alakazam, and suggests the best moveset for Mega Falinks itself. Shiny Falinks will also have increased encounter rates during the event.
Don't Expect A Pokémon GO Sequel Any Time SoonNiantic's popular mobile game Pokémon GO is unlikely to receive a sequel in the near future, according to Scopely's president of games, Ed Wu. Wu stated that a sequel would divide the game's large community and that any future endeavors would need to approach the concept from a different angle. Pokémon GO has achieved significant success, with over 500 million downloads and billions in revenue.
Niantic comments on why Pokemon Go 2 won’t be happening anytime soonNiantic has commented on the possibility of a Pokemon Go sequel, with Ed Wu, former senior vice president at Niantic and current president of games at Scopely, stating that a direct sequel is unlikely. He explained that the focus is on maintaining the existing community and inspiring exploration, suggesting any future new titles would approach the concept from a different angle. Pokemon Go continues to be a major success, approaching its tenth anniversary with over 500 million downloads and significant revenue.
Pokémon Go 2 is out, but Niantic has big plans under new owner ScopelyScopely president of games Ed Wu and head of M&A Heather Tacskovics discussed the company's $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic Games one year ago. They clarified that a direct sequel to Pokémon Go is unlikely, emphasizing a focus on community and exploration. The acquisition integrated Niantic's game portfolio, including Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, into Scopely's operations, while Niantic's tech division was spun out.
IGN Live 2026 Partner Lineup to Include Avatar: The Last Airbender and Control ResonantIGN Live 2026 has announced its partner lineup, featuring "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Season 2, "Control Resonant," and "Poppy Playtime" Chapter 4. The event will also include appearances from "Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis," "Rick and Morty," and WWE Superstar Kevin Owens, among others. The event takes place June 6-7 in Los Angeles.