In a recent interview, Pokémon Go director Michael Steranka opened up about the game’s transition to new ownership after Niantic sold its mobile gaming portfolio to Scopely for $3.5 billion. 
While the sale was met with mixed reactions from fans, Steranka reassures players that it’s business as usual for the hit mobile game.
The deal, which saw Niantic’s mobile game portfolio, including Pokémon Go, sold to Scopely, sparked concerns from some players, particularly about potential changes to monetization and the influence of Scopely’s Saudi-backed parent company, Savvy Games. However, Steranka emphasizes that there won’t be any drastic changes to the game’s direction. He shared that the transition has been seamless, with no immediate shifts in the development process.
“We physically moved basically one block over, so it wasn’t too much of a change,” Steranka says. “It’s been very much business as usual. We’ve been focused on delivering the same kind of content that players have enjoyed for years.”
While the augmented reality (AR) features of Pokémon Go had been a significant focus under Niantic, Steranka revealed that the future direction will likely see a shift away from AR as a primary focus. “We’ve heard loud and clear from players that they haven’t been thrilled with some of the AR features added in the past,” he admitted. “Going forward, if we add AR, it’ll be because we truly believe it’ll add fun and excitement to the game.”
The team at Scopely, which focuses entirely on gaming, is expected to bring a more game-centric approach to the development process. “It’s a breath of fresh air to be at a company that’s fully dedicated to games,” Steranka said, noting that this shift should lead to smoother development and a more focused roadmap for future updates.
Even though fans have seen new in-game features and items like the Golden Bottle Cap and Lucky Trinket, Steranka explained that these were already part of the game’s planned roadmap, developed before the acquisition. The team has been working on these features for months, and Scopely has been supportive of their vision rather than dictating any major changes.
Looking ahead, the Pokémon Go team has already mapped out the game’s development for the next two years, although adjustments may be made along the way. While some fans are still skeptical about the new ownership, Steranka remains optimistic. He believes that over time, actions will speak louder than words, and the changes will ultimately be positive for the game.
One of the more pressing issues that many fans have raised is the involvement of Savvy Games, given its connection to Saudi Arabia. However, Steranka assures players that the Pokémon Go team will remain largely independent from Savvy. “Our team will never directly engage with Savvy,” he said. “Scopely operates independently, and the funding they provide allows us to invest in the game in ways that we’ve always wanted to.”
As for the concerns about having a football star like Cristiano Ronaldo make his way into Pokémon Go, Steranka quickly shot down the idea. “Definitely not,” he said with a laugh. “That’s just not our vibe.”