Summary
- Pokemon GO fans are concerned about potential acquisition by Scopely over fears of increased monetization.
- Players worry that Scopely may introduce more microtransactions, paywalls, and pay-to-win mechanics.
- Some players hope for reduced monetization to win back fans, while others fear fans may give up on the game.
Pokemon GO fans are voicing concerns about the possible acquisition of the game by game developer and publisher Scopely. These concerns arrive following increasing frustration with Niantic and Pokemon GO over monetization, as fans worry that the matter will only get worse under its possible new ownership.
In mid-February, news broke that Pokemon GO developer Niantic was looking to sell its gaming division. Reports indicate that Niantic may be selling its gaming division for $3 billion to Scopely, whose parent company is the Saudia Arabia-based Savvy Games Group. Though no official announcements have been made to the public regarding a sale, players aren’t waiting to let their thoughts be known about what this sale could mean for the game.
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Several Pokemon fans have shared posts and messages discussing the possible sale to Scopely and their concerns over what it could mean for the mobile game. The biggest worry appears to be that Pokemon GO may incorporate even more microtransactions, as many outspoken players feel Scopely has a reputation for overly relying upon them. Scopely runs titles like Marvel Strike Force and Monopoly GO, and some have pointed to the microtransactions in these titles as being an example of what could happen to Pokemon GO should the sale go through. Players have shared worries over the idea of paywalls and pay-to-win mechanics becoming a part of Pokemon GO.
Pokemon GO Players Already Tired of Microtransactions
Whether Scopely actually purchases the Niantic gaming division and makes significant changes remains to be seen. However, even before this news came to light, it was already clear that Pokemon GO players have become weary of microtransactions in general. Pokemon GO players have been critical of how the game already pushes spending money on storage, Poke Balls, incubators, and raid passes. However, even so-called “whales” who are more than willing to spend larger sums of money on the game than the average player have expressed concern for the state of the game’s future should it be sold. One suggested that Scopely should instead reduce the amount of monetization in Pokemon GO, which could win back fans and lead to higher profits for the company in the long run. However, many fear that the opposite will happen, and that many fans could end up finally giving up on Pokemon GO after nearly a decade’s worth of success.
For now, it remains to be seen what the future of Pokemon GO will bring. Some players seem hopeful that The Pokemon Company’s influence will prevent the game from becoming further monetized or even pay-to-win, but others aren’t as optimistic. If the sale ends up happening, Scopely will obviously want to recoup its $3 billion. Whether it will be able to do so without alienating the fanbase is unclear.
- Released
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July 6, 2016
- ESRB
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