Niantic, the studio behind Pokémon GO, has renamed itself Scopely Explore, timing the switch to the mobile game’s tenth anniversary this week.
The rebrand follows Scopely‘s $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic’s games division in March 2025. Scopely operates as a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, the Saudi state-backed gaming investment fund that also owns stakes in other major publishers. According to the announcement, the new studio is not a standalone company. It is a mission-driven team operating inside Scopely, and every game and product in the portfolio still gets developed and published by Scopely itself.
Niantic launched Pokémon GO in July 2016, a year after spinning out of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. The game turned augmented reality into a mainstream mobile habit. It sent millions of players into streets and parks to catch virtual creatures, and it remains the studio’s flagship release a decade later. The Niantic name, once synonymous with that launch, now steps aside for the new branding.
Why the Scopely Explore name change happened
Scopely said the new identity “reflects a mission that has guided these teams from the very beginning.” In its statement, the company explained: “Exploration sits at the heart of these games and experiences, and the communities they serve. Whether encouraging players to discover new places, connect with others, or experience the world in new ways, this team has always been united by a belief that there is more to explore.”
Scopely framed the change as a long-term commitment rather than a one-off marketing refresh. The company added that the team “will continue building experiences that inspire people to get outside, connect with one another, and explore the world together.” That work continues, the statement said, “for many years to come as part of Scopely.” The announcement did not mention any changes to staffing, studio locations, or leadership as part of the transition, and Scopely gave no timeline beyond the coming weeks for completing the visual rollout.
Which games get the new branding
The new name and logo will appear across Niantic’s existing library over the coming weeks. That includes Pokémon GO itself, along with Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, the other location-based titles built on the same augmented reality technology.
- Pokémon GO, the flagship title turning 10 this week
- Pikmin Bloom, the walking and gardening game built with Nintendo
- Monster Hunter Now, the AR spin-off developed with Capcom
For players, the shift changes branding rather than gameplay. Login screens, splash art and store listings will carry the Scopely Explore name going forward. Account data, servers and support channels stay tied to Scopely. Niantic as a company name effectively retires from public-facing use once the transition completes. Existing Pokémon GO accounts, trainer progress, and in-game purchases carry over without any action required from players.