Pokémon Go developer Niantic is reportedly in discussions to sell its video game division to the Saudi-owned company Scopely for a staggering $3.5 billion. As highlighted by Bloomberg, this potential sale would encompass the wildly popular augmented-reality mobile game, Pokémon Go, which encourages players to explore the real world in their quest to capture Pokémon.

According to a source who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously, the deal is not yet finalized, but if it receives the green light, it could be officially announced within weeks. Both Niantic and Scopely, along with Scopely's parent company Savvy Games Group, have chosen to remain silent on the matter and have not issued any public statements regarding the rumored acquisition.

It's worth noting that Savvy Games Group, which is backed by the Saudi government, acquired Scopely earlier in April 2023 for $4.9 billion. This move followed the Saudi government's declaration of its intent to purchase "a leading games publisher." Scopely is known for publishing a variety of successful mobile games, including titles like The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go.

In addition to its acquisition of Scopely, Savvy Gaming Group also made headlines in 2022 by purchasing two of the world's largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for a combined $1.5 billion.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz emphasized the strategic importance of these acquisitions, stating, "Savvy Games Group is one part of our ambitious strategy aiming to make Saudi Arabia the ultimate global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030. We are harnessing the untapped potential across the esports and games sector to diversify our economy, drive innovation in the sector, and further scale the entertainment and esports competition offerings across the Kingdom."