Pokémon Go Under New Ownership: Saudi Ties Won’t Affect Player Data

Pokémon Go is changing hands as part of a $3.5 billion deal that will see Niantic sell its games business to Scopely. This major acquisition has raised questions among the player community about what might change for one of mobile gaming's most enduring titles.

Michael Steranka, senior product director for Pokémon Go, recently addressed these concerns in an extensive interview with Pokémon Go YouTuber TrainerTips. The hour-long conversation covered everything from player data security to future game development priorities and monetization plans.

What's Behind the Sale?

According to Steranka, the sale has been in development for some time and stems from Niantic's dual identity. For years, the company has been divided between teams focused on building a mapping platform and teams dedicated to creating games like Pokémon Go.

"Niantic always had a little bit of a dual personality," Steranka explained. "We've had one huge chunk of the team very focused on creating this mapping platform... and then we had another group focused on games."

This division sometimes created competing priorities that made it difficult for either side to fully focus on their goals. The acquisition allows each group to concentrate on what they do best – Niantic on its AR platform and the game teams on developing the best possible player experiences.

Will the Game Change?

Players worried about major changes can breathe easier. Steranka emphasized "continuity" as the primary short-term goal, with most of the current Pokémon Go team, including executive director Ed Wu, moving to Scopely.

"The way scopely actually manages their portfolio of games is they empower all of their teams to make all the decisions that they feel is best for that specific product," Steranka noted. This means the Pokémon Go team will maintain creative control over the game's direction.

What About Player Data?

One major concern involves player data privacy, particularly since Scopely is owned by Savvy Games Group, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Steranka directly addressed these concerns: "That all stays in the US. It never leaves the country. And it's not something that ever gets shared up with Savvy or otherwise."

He further explained that contrary to popular belief, Niantic doesn't store player data beyond what's needed to operate the game, with all information being fully encrypted, protected, and eventually deleted when no longer needed.

The Pokémon Company's Involvement

The Pokémon Company, which was one of Niantic's earliest investors and holds a position on its board of directors, fully supported the sale. According to Steranka, TPC will continue to be heavily involved in the game's development.

"We work very closely with them day-to-day on literally everything that happens in the game," he said. "There's nothing that goes live to players that we don't agree on and get aligned on with the Pokémon Company."

Future Monetization Plans

Many players worry that new ownership might lead to more aggressive monetization tactics, but Steranka says Scopely sees Pokémon Go's current approach as a strength.

"Scopely already sees Pokémon Go as something that is very financially viable as it is currently being operated," he explained. He emphasized that the game's "truly free to play" model, where purchases are optional rather than required to enjoy the experience, will continue.

When directly asked about the possibility of popup ads appearing in the game, Steranka firmly stated: "That will never happen."

What's Next?

While specific roadmap details weren't provided, Steranka suggested that the acquisition might actually lead to more resources being invested in Pokémon Go, as the game's profits will no longer be directed toward other Niantic projects.

Features like Wayfarer (for submitting new PokéStops) will continue, and the Campfire app will also move to Scopely with the rest of the Pokémon Go ecosystem.

For the immediate future, players should expect business as usual with a focus on continuity, particularly with Go Fest events planned for this summer. Looking further ahead to 2026, which marks the game's 10-year anniversary, Steranka hinted at potentially bigger plans under the new ownership.

While acknowledging that some skepticism is natural, Steranka expressed optimism about Pokémon Go's future with Scopely: "This is a great thing for Pokémon Go, and I'm excited for the next several years."

With the core team remaining intact and The Pokémon Company still heavily involved in oversight, the popular mobile game appears positioned to maintain its identity while potentially benefiting from increased focus and resources under its new ownership.