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Pokemon GO 10th anniversary event featured 1,500-person Mega Mewtwo Y raid in Times Square
Pokemon GO celebrated its 10th anniversary with a massive in-person event in Times Square, New York, featuring a Mega Raid battle against Mega Mewtwo Y with over 1,500 trainers participating. Despite some connection issues affecting a portion of the participants, the event was a significant milestone, with all trainers who caught Mewtwo receiving one with maxed-out stats. This event precedes the global Pokemon GO Fest, which will introduce Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Mewtwo X to all regions.
Niantic is rebranding the Pokemon Go games division under Scopely as Scopely Explore
Niantic has rebranded its games division to Scopely Explore following its sale to Savvy Games' Scopely. This rebranding aims to emphasize the exploration aspect of games like Pokemon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom. The change is largely cosmetic, with development continuing under the new name over the next few weeks.
Mario Kart Tour Will Be Unplayable After Nintendo Shuts It Down In September
Nintendo 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 broadcast announced
Niantic has announced a 10th anniversary broadcast for Pokemon GO, scheduled for Thursday, July 9th. The live stream will feature community content creators and detail the company's plans to celebrate the mobile game's decade-long run on iOS and Android.
Pokemon Go 10th Anniversary Twitch Drop Details
Pokemon 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 logo
Niantic, 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 office
Niantic 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 AuKnow
Mobile 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 | Chris Chung joins Neowiz as head of global business group
Several key personnel changes have occurred across the gaming industry. Chris Chung joins Neowiz as head of global business group, Dylan Beale is the new studio head at Larian Guildford, and Jonnie Bryant becomes communications director at Team17. Other notable moves include Robert Henrysson stepping down as CEO of Supermassive Games and Nicholas Penwarden departing Epic Games after 15 years.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Robert Henrysson steps down as Supermassive Games CEO
Several 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.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Marathon director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie
This article rounds up recent hires and departures within the games industry for July 2026. Notable moves include Joe Ziegler leaving Bungie's Marathon team, Chris Chung joining Neowiz, and Robert Henrysson stepping down as CEO of Supermassive Games. Several other companies announced new appointments across marketing, production, and business development roles.
The Sunday Papers
This 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 Insists
Niantic 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 partnership
Concerns 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 drones
Data 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 software
Dutch 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 drones
Data 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 training
A 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 Fest
This 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 & Y
The 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.