SAUDI ARABIA TO BUY POKEMON GO’S PARENT COMPANY FOR $3.5BN

Wed 19 March 2025:

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is buying the gaming division of developer Niantic, whose titles include mobile game Pokémon Go, for $3.5 billion.

This is the latest purchase for the kingdom, which in the past few years has made significant strides in becoming a global hub for esports and gaming, part of the crown prince’s efforts to move the kingdom away from a reliance on petrodollars.

Pokémon Go sees players walk around in the real world to hunt for creatures which appear on their screen and is one of the highest-grossing mobile games.

The purchase of the game will provide PIF with location data for all 30 million monthly users. Critics have warned that the deal will provide AI mapping data to the kingdom allowing it to create a “large geospatial model”.

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Saudi has long been accused of “games-washing” to improve the kingdom’s reputation amidst accusations of human rights violations.

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game released in 2016 that combines the real world with the world of Pokémon. Players use their smartphones to explore their surroundings, catching Pokémon that appear based on their location. The game uses GPS to place Pokémon in real-world environments, encouraging outdoor exploration and social interaction.

Players can catch Pokémon, battle in gyms, complete challenges, and take part in events. They collect Pokémon based on different types, and the goal is to “catch ’em all.” The game also includes elements like PokéStops, where players can collect items, and PokéGyms, where they can battle other players’ Pokémon.

The game has evolved with updates, adding features like Raids, where players team up to battle powerful Pokémon, and Community Days, which encourage players to gather and catch specific Pokémon. It’s a fun mix of adventure, fitness, and nostalgia, combining gaming with the real world.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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