Pokémon Go Director on New Era, Excluding Ronaldo

Earlier this year, Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go, announced the sale of its mobile game portfolio to Scopely, the company behind Monopoly Go, in a $3.5 billion deal. This development was met with both enthusiasm and criticism from the game's dedicated community.

For some players, the transition to new ownership signals relief from Niantic's previous emphasis on integrating augmented reality features, which many felt were unnecessary. Following the sale, Niantic rebranded as Niantic Spatial, pivoting exclusively to AR technology. In contrast, Scopely maintains a singular focus on gaming.

However, other fans, especially those familiar with Scopely's other titles, expressed concerns about potential increases in monetization and the influence of its parent company, Savvy Games. Savvy Games is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has been a subject of controversy.

As part of his first interviews since the acquisition was finalized earlier this month, Pokémon Go director Michael Steranka discussed the implications of the ownership change and what it means for the future of the popular mobile game.

"We only moved about a block away, so it wasn't a drastic change," Steranka remarked during our conversation at the Pokémon Go Fest 2025 event in Paris, where we sat on branded deck chairs. "It was actually one of our overflow offices, so it felt very familiar."

"The most notable aspect of this transition has been how seamless it's been," he continued. "It's very much business as usual."

For Pokémon Go, business as usual involves a packed schedule of in-game events, new Pokémon releases, and real-world gatherings like Go Fest 2025 and the upcoming Pokémon Go Road Trip 2025. This event series is set to launch in the UK later this month and conclude in Cologne in August. Steranka emphasized that despite the acquisition, the game's operations have continued smoothly, though he acknowledged it's still early in the process.

"Admittedly, the deal closed during the Osaka Go Fest, and the team has been quite busy, so any disruption was intentionally minimized," he noted. "Based on my discussions with Scopely, their approach is to be supportive and non-intrusive with development teams."

"Our entire development team moved with us, and in terms of daily operations, we still report to Ed Woo, our team leader from Niantic, who is now also part of Scopely."

"One area that may receive less emphasis is augmented reality."

So, what changes can players expect? A key positive for many is the reduced focus on AR gameplay.

"Augmented reality will likely be a lower priority," Steranka confirmed. "It's no secret that many players haven't been enthusiastic about the AR features introduced over the years. Moving forward, any AR functionality we add will be because the team genuinely believes it enhances the fun and excitement of the game."

Unlike Niantic, Scopely is entirely dedicated to video games—a shift Steranka described as a "breath of fresh air" for his team.

"Philosophically, it's great to be part of a company fully committed to gaming," he explained. "At Niantic, we sometimes struggled with competing priorities. At Scopely, the focus is squarely on what's best for the game, which I believe will be a welcome change for everyone."

Despite recent updates that expanded remote gameplay options and introduced items like the Lucky Trinket and the upcoming Golden Bottle Cap, Steranka clarified that these are part of the team's pre-planned roadmap, developed months ago.

"It's amusing because some players assume these changes are due to the Scopely acquisition," Steranka said. "These are features we've been working on for some time."

"To be fair, Scopely hasn't interfered with our plans. They've been supportive of our existing roadmap. We have more exciting updates planned for later this year that players will love."

Regarding long-term plans, Steranka revealed that the Pokémon Go team has content mapped out for the next two years, though adjustments may occur over time.

"I think skeptics will remain skeptical."

Shortly after the sale was announced, Steranka participated in a detailed interview with TrainerTips, a prominent Pokémon Go content creator on YouTube, to address fan concerns about the game's future. Now that the deal is complete, I asked Steranka how the community's sentiment has evolved.

"Skeptics will likely remain skeptical," Steranka admitted. "Our best approach is to demonstrate over time that this is a positive direction for the game. Since the TrainerTips interview, I've noticed more optimism among players. It's a healthy skepticism, but there's hope as well."

"I've heard great things about Scopely. Actions speak louder than words, and so far, their actions have been excellent. I expect this to continue in the years ahead."

Despite the optimism, I also wanted to explore the alignment between Niantic's former Pokémon Go team and Scopely, which is owned by Savvy Games. Pokémon Go has historically positioned itself as an inclusive game with progressive leadership. I asked Steranka about internal discussions regarding ownership by a Saudi-backed company and its potential impact.

"This was something I personally wanted to clarify early on," Steranka shared. "I discussed it directly with Walter Driver, Scopely's co-CEO and founder, and his perspective resonated with me."

"First, our team will rarely, if ever, interact directly with Savvy. They allow Scopely to operate independently. Second, engaging with diverse perspectives is crucial for positive change. You can't effect change without dialogue."

"This aligns with the core philosophy of Pokémon Go. We encourage players to connect with their communities, believing in the power of face-to-face interactions to find common ground and improve the world."

"You can't make changes without engagement."

"I don't anticipate any major directives from Savvy. If anything, this partnership provides the funding we need to invest in areas we've always wanted to explore. I'm excited about this, as it allows us to focus on the long-term health of the game without the pressure of quarterly shareholder demands."

Earlier this year, another Saudi-backed company, SNK, drew attention by featuring Cristiano Ronaldo in its game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, coinciding with his involvement in Saudi football leagues.

"I did see that," Steranka said when I mentioned it.

I joked that this probably means we shouldn't expect Ronaldo to appear in Pokémon Go anytime soon.

"Definitely not," Steranka replied with a laugh. "That's not really our vibe in Pokémon Go."