In a significant restructuring move, Niantic has laid off 68 employees after selling its gaming portfolio to Scopely for $3.5 billion. This sale includes beloved titles such as Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom, all of which are now owned by Scopely. The layoffs are targeted at remaining staff as Niantic rebrands itself as Niantic Spatial, positioning itself as a startup focused on AI mapping and digital geospatial technology. Niantic has secured a $250 million investment to innovate and develop new solutions for machine navigation and understanding the physical world.

What changes is Niantic undergoing after the sale of its gaming portfolio?

After the sale, Niantic is rebranding as Niantic Spatial and focusing on AI-driven digital mapping solutions while laying off 68 employees in a restructuring effort.

Niantic is best known as the developer behind Pokémon Go, which revolutionized mobile gaming with its Augmented Reality gameplay. The game has maintained a massive player base since its launch in 2016, merging the concepts of gaming and physical exploration. As Niantic pivots towards AI mapping, its transition could reshape how digital experiences interact with the real world, particularly for future technologies like smart glasses and AI-driven navigation systems.