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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.
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.
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.
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.
Witcher Dev’s Mysterious New Game With Saudi Arabia’s Scopely Is Not Releasing Soon
CD Projekt Red's new mobile game, a collaboration with Scopely based on one of CD Projekt's franchises, will not be released in 2026. Joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski stated that the game is undergoing an iterative development process and has not yet reached a satisfactory level for release. The partnership was announced in March 2025, with Scopely being acquired by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games in 2023.
Embracer founder says the company's "large adjustment" in 2023 was a chance for some studios "to prove themselves," not "a hard 'US Corporate style' headcount reduction"
Embracer Group founder Lars Wingefors described the company's significant restructuring in 2023 as an opportunity for some studios to prove themselves, rather than a traditional corporate layoff. Despite the company's association with industry layoffs, Wingefors stated the goal was to give select developers and IPs a chance to demonstrate their value following the collapse of a major deal.
Embracer chairman says cost control 'does not get enough respect' after presiding over years of layoffs
Embracer Group chairman Lars Wingefors defended the company's extensive layoffs and studio closures, stating that cost control is often underestimated. He argued that the company worked to retain as many employees as possible while balancing business needs. Wingefors' comments come amid ongoing restructuring and studio divestments following a significant investment collapse in 2023.
Pokémon Go 2 is out, but Niantic has big plans under new owner Scopely
Scopely 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.
ESA's iicon conference expands speaker lineup, with EA's Andrew Wilson joining CEOs of Ubisoft, Take Two, Riot, Savvy Games and more
The Entertainment Software Association's new iicon conference has expanded its speaker lineup, adding Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson. He will join other industry leaders including Yves Guillemot of Ubisoft, Strauss Zelnick of Take-Two Interactive, Dylan Jadeja of Riot Games, and Brian Ward of Savvy Games Group. The event focuses on interactive entertainment and its expansion opportunities across various industries.
Eidos-Montréal announces 124 job cuts; studio head David Anfossi departs after 19 years at developer
Eidos-Montréal has announced a workforce reduction affecting 124 employees, with studio head David Anfossi departing after 19 years. The decision is attributed to changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. This follows previous layoffs in December and March, with the studio reportedly focusing on co-development projects like Microsoft's Grounded 2 and Fable.
Nintendo cuts Switch 2 production, layoffs at Epic and PlayStation, and another Saudi acquisition - Patch Notes #45
This week's Patch Notes covers significant industry news including over 1,000 layoffs at Epic Games, Savvy Games Group's $6 billion acquisition of Moonton, and Nintendo's decision to cut Switch 2 production by over 30 percent due to weak US sales. Additionally, Sony has shuttered Dark Outlaw Games, and French studios Spiders, Kylotonn, and Cyanide have filed for insolvency.
Savvy Games Group to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion
Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has agreed to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion. This significant acquisition marks a major move in the gaming industry.
Savvy Games Group to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion
Savvy Games Group is set to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion. The article also contains extensive discussion among commenters about Sony's recent studio closures, game cancellations, and financial performance, with some users expressing concern about the company's direction and others defending its profitability.
Business and Finance
Behaviour Interactive, the maker of Dead by Daylight, has acquired the studio behind 7 Days to Die to build a portfolio of horror intellectual property. In a separate deal, Savvy Games purchased Mobile Legends developer Moonton.
Savvy Games acquires Mobile Legends developer Moonton for $6 billion
Savvy Games has acquired Mobile Legends developer Moonton from ByteDance for $6 billion, aiming to expand its mobile gaming division and esports presence. Separately, Roblox announced plans to charge creators for brand integrations starting in 2027, framing it as an evolution of user, creator, and brand responsibility rather than a revenue-driven move.
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All Time
This article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Saudi-backed Savvy Games acquires mobile developer Moonton for $6 billion
Saudi-backed Savvy Games has acquired Chinese mobile developer Moonton for $6 billion, strengthening its position in the mobile gaming and esports markets. Moonton is known for its popular MOBA game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, which boasts over 110 million monthly active players. This acquisition is part of Savvy Games' broader strategy to invest heavily in the gaming industry.
Savvy Games Group to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion
Savvy Games Group is set to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion. This acquisition follows ByteDance's purchase of Moonton Games for $4 billion in 2021.
ByteDance Sells Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Dev Moonton to Saudis for $6b
ByteDance has agreed to sell Moonton, the developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Saudi Arabian-owned Savvy Games Group for over $6 billion. This acquisition is part of Saudi Arabia's significant investment in the gaming sector. Moonton's parent company, ByteDance, previously acquired the studio in 2021 but has since been divesting from its gaming ventures.
ByteDance is selling its Moonton game unit to Savvy Games for a cool $6 billion
ByteDance has agreed to sell its mobile game developer Moonton, known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Savvy Games Group for $6 billion. This move is part of ByteDance's strategic shift away from gaming towards AI, while Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, continues its expansion in the gaming sector.