In a shocking twist that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie, Pokémon Go, the game that once brought the world together to catch Pikachu in parks and battle at local gyms – has just been sold! But not to Nintendo. Not to Google. Not even to a gaming giant.
It was sold to a company backed by Saudi Arabia.
Let that sink in.
A $3.5 Billion Sale With Hidden Consequences
Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, has officially handed over all of these games, and their teams : to a company called Scopely (Monopoly Go maker). Scopely is owned by Savvy Games Group. And Savvy Games is owned by the Saudi Arabian government.
Yes, you read that right. The same game you use to walk around your neighborhood, explore your city, and connect with friends is now owned – completely – by a foreign government with a long history of surveillance, censorship, and controlling information.
It’s Not Just a Game, It’s a Map of Your Life
Pokémon Go isn’t just a fun little app. It knows where you go, when you go there, how often you move, and who you play with. It tracks your real-world location in real time.
This data isn’t just some numbers on a screen. It’s tied to your email, your phone ID, your Google or Apple account, and through that, it’s not hard to figure out exactly who you are.
Imagine someone anyone having access to a map of your entire life. Your morning walk route. Your school or office location. The park you visit every weekend. The streets you walk home at night. That is what Niantic holds. And now, that data pipeline runs straight through a company owned by Saudi Arabia.
Over 100 million people played Pokémon Go in 2024. And now, all that location data, years of it, is in the hands of Saudi Arabia.
What Happens Next?
Right now, nothing might look different. The app will still load. Pikachu will still smile. Your friends list will still be there.
But behind the scenes, something massive has changed.
Saudi Arabia didn’t just buy a game.
They bought the map to your life.
