The mobile game "Pokémon Go" and its developer are being sold to Saudi Arabia, reports tech site The Verge. The deal is valued at 3.5 billion dollars and also includes other so-called AR games from developers Niantic.
"Pokémon Go" became a global phenomenon when it was launched in 2016 and allowed players to catch monsters in the "real" world thanks to augmented reality (AR), i.e. the game used GPS to see where the player was located and then displayed the monsters on the screen as if they were at the park or bus stop.
Niantic has had difficulty repeating the success in other titles after "Pokémon Go". The deal with Saudi Scopely should also be seen in the light of the Arab state having invested heavily in the gaming industry in recent years with share purchases in, among other things, the original "Pokémon" publishers Nintendo as well as Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard.
