Niantic has officially confirmed that Pokémon GO will not undergo any major changes following its $3.5 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia-owned Scopely back in March. Despite player concerns, the popular AR game will remain under Niantic’s creative control.
In a joint statement issued in Japan, both companies clarified their roles going forward. “The direction of our game will not undergo any major changes under the influence of Scopely,” a Niantic representative stated. “They will just be supporting its further improvement, and we will keep doing what we’ve been doing since the beginning. To put it more bluntly, please rest assured that we will not be shutting down the game.”
Scopely also acknowledged the value of Pokémon GO and its continued popularity among players, assuring the community that the acquisition aims to support—not overhaul—the current gameplay model.
Niantic is already introducing a new feature called Pokémon Stamp Rally, which allows players to visit designated locations to collect stamps, earn special items, and encounter rare Pokémon. This feature launches exclusively in Japan on April 13, starting with an event at Osaka World Expo.
Additionally, Niantic confirmed there are no plans to introduce intrusive advertisements or sell player data to third parties, a concern some fans raised following the acquisition.
Meanwhile, the Might and Mastery season continues this April, with new activities, raid bosses, and Spotlight Pokémon. Notably, Ultra Beasts Blacephalon and Stakataka will be featured in upcoming raids, offering a rare chance to add them to your collection.
