Niantic’s extended reality video game phenomenon, Pokémon Go, could soon be under new ownership. And some fans are already working to prevent them from reaching this next stage of their evolution.
A longtime player in Pokémon Company’s trending mobile experience has been in the process of last week. Bloomberg The report suggested that Niantic is Scopley in a talk to sell video game efforts to Saudi-owned companies Approximately $3.5 billion. This is a transaction that could involve trades for titles like Monster Hunter Now, Pikmin Bloom, and yes, Pokémon Go, with announcements expected to arrive soon. There was nothing about how leadership changes could have an impact on mechanics and microtransactions in the game… yet.
This is what we see in a scoping state in the photo. My desire to play Pogo. 😬🤬 pic.twitter.com/ukylfv7vkx
– Amywiedy (@amy_wiedy) February 20, 2025
Scopely oversees a wide range of well-known mobile experiences from board games derivatives like Scrabble Go and Monopoly Go. For games like Stumble Guys and Marvel Strike Force. One factor that scares Pokémon Go players more than anything else is the microtransaction practice, where these titles are well-known. Nine years after its release, thousands of fans are worried that things could get worse as real adventure spinoffs continue to play a key role in players’ lives.
“They’ll probably release Mewtwo X and Y. But they’ll have to pay $100 just to get them.” Reddit users theorized. “If everyone here knows what they did for the Marvel Strike Force, we’re all in panic. They’ll definitely push this game to the ground.”
I’m looking for Everstone
The fear of scoped ownership is more than the tactics themselves, but the aggression behind these monetization tactics, and it is this same fear that drove Reddit users and longtime Pokemon GO fans Tetrylene to take action. Rumors of Niantic’s interest in sales gained momentum, so he Post published In the hope that other Pokemon Goars will host a campaign to honorably inform Pokemon companies that there are certain changes they do not support, regardless of their ownership.
“But it’s here. You have to try to leverage and leverage,” says Tetrylene’s post. “By reaching out to (Pokemon Company), we can express our concerns and highlight the importance of maintaining the game’s current spirit similarity. They have invested heavily in the Pokémon brand and are likely to accept feedback that could affect its reputation.”
The post has now generated 1.4k upvotes from over a week ago, generating hundreds of comments from like-minded fans. Tetrylene tells us that his initiative began with a desire to front and center community concerns. I’m not sure if the message actually reaches the Pokémon company in a meaningful way, but he says the discussion his post brings to the table is worth the effort.
“Just just as looting boxes have turned into a toxic monetization option for the industry, we hope that the pushback will signal that there is absolutely a limit to how much the player base can withstand,” Tetrylene explained. “This is all very defensive, but part of me wants that new owners may want to take advantage of the incredible possibilities of the game rather than being dry. The doors are wide open to both possibilities. I hope we can try and guide them towards the former, not the latter.”
Like millions of other Pokemon fans, Tetrylene has several Pokemon near his heart. His favorites are Groudon and Metagross ties. When he says “Gen 3 for life,” he means that. He added that Pokémon Go has been his hobby for two and a half years, and that mobile games also serve as an excuse to meet up with friends at least once a week.
It bloomed in the activity to watch Tetrylene, co-leading an active group of nearly 70 players. It led to a trip to a new city and a new friend. When the honeymoon stage finally drained, much of the world moved out of Pokemon Go, but a group of dedicated trainers regularly connect with others, show off their Pokemon collections and continue fighting.
Advantage of Types
However, there are no two players who enjoy Pokemon Go in the same way. Every casual Pokemon GO fan has spent thousands of dollars.
Next Levelevolution, an adult Go known as Reddit user and self-proclaimed Pokémon GO known as “Whale” I wrote a letter published to the scope amid rumors of a potential sale of Niantic. It’s not about promoting action, but it comes with warnings that a more aggressive monetization strategy will “break your trust with your user base” and “change the game enough that it will no longer be considered a true Pokemon-franchise experience.”
“For me, Pokemon is very nostalgic, and I think Pokemon Go is in a pretty good place right now, and it’s on a upward trajectory for the first time in years,” Next Level Evolution told Passthecontroller. “In its best, Pokemon games are about adventure and discovery. When Pokémon Go first came out, the idea that I could become a Pokemon trainer in the real world was enough to enthralle me and millions of people. I hope that the spirit of this game will not be lost to make another fast money.”
They say they know other whales that have spent “thousands of dollars” a year, and say “no one is excited about the possibility of a purchase that scops Pokemon Go.” For now, NextLevelevolution is not optimistic that a community-driven move to ban aggressive monetization tactics will gain enough momentum to make a difference, but at the worst they are willing to vote at least in their wallets.
“I don’t particularly expect this to work,” they explained. “But if you have to pay to get rid of ads in the game, they can tell you that I would lose me as a customer too.
Be careful of your surroundings
There is debate over the current state of Pokémon Go, and existing under the Scopely Banner actually brings a worse experience. No matter how the game is monetized or monetized, Niantic has spent nine years molding it into something beloved and messy. Tetrylene has a laundry list of tweaks you want to implement, including the ability to skip certain animations, deals, new points of interest, in-game communication options, and more thoughtful raid placement.
The general consensus is that while Pokémon Go requires maintenance costs, most devoted fans see the experience as a fragile, exciting once-in-a-lifetime hobby. For them, it’s difficult to see how Scopely monetized other titles, not seen as a fun entertainment or the tool used by millions of tools to stay connected.
There are mixed feelings about the news that Pokémon Go is on sale to Scopely for $3.5 billion
I could see him watching a 10-second ad after reviving the game or spinning the Pokestop
I’m just as niantic and shit as the next guy, but lowkey is a bit worried pic.twitter.com/mogmx3tdpk
– pogocentral (@pogo_central) February 19, 2025
Tetrylene hopes the momentum will continue, but at least “pleasantly surprised” by how the community responds to the call to action. He says that if you put players together like this, some people have already reached out to the Pokémon company to make a difference. Without confirming that Niantic is actually about to sell, Pokémon Go remains as what Tetrylene calls the “ultimate social hobby.” What it will look like in the next few years remains a mystery.
“There’s never another game like Pokémon Go,” community organizers said in their final message to Pokémon Company. “There’s no other game that can really claim to be social like this is. Even after nearly a decade, there’s never another game (any genre) that will nurture a global community on this scale. There’s still no other mobile game that allows you to stumble in an unfamiliar place and quickly find new friends for the rest of your life.”
He continues: Does the trip really end here? There’s no need to do that. There’s still a lot left to be had in Pokémon Go. Let’s soar up. ”
Passthecontroller contacted Pokémon Company and Niantic for comments.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor to Passthecontroller. He is best known for his work on sites such as Pitch, Fugitive, and Only sp. Be sure to provide him with followers on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@mikecripe).
