Overview

• Scopely, a Saudi-backed publisher, has officially acquired Niantic, the developer of Pokemon GO, for $3.5 billion.
• Michael Steranka, senior product director at Niantic, stated that Scopely recognizes Pokemon GO's unique appeal and will not introduce intrusive ads or playtime restrictions.
• Niantic developers have reportedly been assured they will retain autonomy over the game's core design and decision-making processes.
• Fans remain skeptical about potential future monetization changes, given Scopely's track record with other games like Monopoly Go.
• The acquisition has also raised concerns about the handling of geolocation data collected by Pokemon GO under Scopely's ownership.