Pokemon Go is no more, at least in the hands of Niantic. After a massive $3.5 billion deal, Pokemon Go, among other games like Monster Hunter Now have been sold to Monopoly Go creators, Scopely, and there are already major concerns.
Since its release back in 2016, Pokemon Go has gone from strength to strength, despite multiple community frustrations and the occasional dwindling playerbase. However, the time has come for change, as on March 12, 2025, Niantic announced its sale to Scopely.
While this certainly represents a new direction for the game, there are immediate concerns, particularly among long-time fans.
Shortly after the news broke, players took to social media to express their worries, with many hoping for “very little changes” in the game’s format, monetization, and overall design. Of course, a new publisher means we could see some changes.
Others are convinced this “might just be the beginning of the end” for the game, with the change not being particularly well-received among the community.
That being said, as part of the announcement, it was made clear that the development team behind Pokemon Go would be staying with the game, so if there were any changes, they may not be as intense as fans expect.
Interestingly, many players were quick to highlight the importance of Pokemon’s control over its IP. “Something to remember is that this isn’t just a Niantic thing commented one player, going on to explain that “the Pokemon Company is rabidly protective of their IP, and I would imagine that there are some pretty strong restrictions around what can and can’t be done with their license.”
However, with any major changes to game ownership, there will always be concerns, but what Pokemon Go’s future entails is anyone’s guess.