Pokemon GO and other mobile games from Niantic have been sold to Scopely. The deal is reported to be worth $3.5 billion. The company confirmed this via official sites for titles.

This sale means that all Niantic games will now be managed by Scopely, the mobile developer responsible for Monopoly Go, Star Trek: Fleet Command and Marvel Strike Force. While Pokemon GO is the most prominent game sold as part of the deal, Scopely will also be overseeing other former Niantic games. This includes Nintendo's Pikmin Bloom and Capcom's Monster Hunter Now. At present, the existing teams handling these games will remain in place, with no changes to personnel. This includes the Pokemon GO team leader, Ed Wu, who wrote about the sale in a blog post on the game’s official website.

The sale attracted some criticism due to Scopely’s connection with the Saudi Arabian government. While the company is based in the US, it is a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, an investment firm created by the Saudi Arabian public wealth fund. Meanwhile, Niantic have sold off their games division in order to focus on technology development, particularly AI.

Despite the game being sold to Scopely, Pokemon Go should see no immediate changes. Updates and events will continue as normal, such as the recent event that brought Black Kyurem and White Kyurem to the game.

Pokemon Go is out now for mobile devices.

The post Pokemon GO and Other Niantic Mobile Games Sold to Scopely appeared first on Siliconera.

A Pokemon Go event will be held as part of the Expo 2025 that will be held in the Japanese city of Osaka, Kansai. The Expo 2025 will he beld between April 13 and October 13, 2025. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

Various iconic Pokemon will appear at the Expo 2025, including Pikachu, Snorlax, Meowth, and the Unown corresponding to the letters E, X, P, and O. Additionally, various 3D photo spots will be available at the venue, and Expo 2025 attendants will be able to take commemorative photos with a variety of Pokemon using the GO Snapshot of Pokemon Go. These photo spots will also double as PokeStops.

Pokemon Go keeps going strong and Niantic recently announced that the March 2025 Community Day will focus around Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Fire type starter Fuecoco. The event will bring the pokemon’s shiny form to the mobile game with an increase rate of appearing, and will be held on March 8, 2025. Additionally, Black Kyurem and White Kyurem will appear in the game during the Global Unova tour between March 1-2, 2025.

Pokemon Go is readily available on Android and Apple iOS mobile devices. The game will be featured at the Expo 2025 and will be held between April 13 and October 13, 2025.

The post Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Will Feature Pokemon Go appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom and Niantic announced that Monster Hunter Now will get a Monster Hunter Wilds crossover event. This will involve items tied to the new console game in the Monster Hunter mobile title, as well as opportunities to earn free items in the latest entry. It will start on February 3, 2025, then end on March 31, 2025, and seems like it could be the first of multiple since it is called MH Wilds Collab Event I.

Not ever element of this Monster Hunter Now crossover have has been revealed yet. Capcom and Niantic shared photos of an in-game layered equipment hoodie that will be a reward for completing certain quests. It, a Guild Card background, armor and weapon Refining Parts, and the code for the console “gifts.” If someone gets that code, they will get 3 Dash Juices, 3 Dust of Lifes, 5 Well-done Steaks, 5 Energy Drinks, and 10 Mega Potions. The in-game store will also feature two packs. One is the MH Wilds Collab Pack Vol. 1 with 5 Paintballs, 10 Potions, 10 Special Carving Knives, and 10 Ultra Hunting Tickets, while the other is the exclusive MH Wilds Collab Pack Vol. 1 with 5 Special Carving Knives, 10 Ultra Hunting Tickets, 20 Potions, and 11,000 Bonus Gems.

Here's how the in-game hoodie looks:

The companies also shared the free reward schedule for the event, which is as follows:

• Week of February 3, 2025: 2 Armor Refining Parts, 2 Weapon Refining Parts, 5 Potions, and 500 Item Box Expansions. 
• Week of February 10, 2025: 2 Armor Refining Parts, 2 Weapon Refining Parts, 2 Potions, and 100 Item Box Expansions. 
• Week of February 17, 2025: 2 Armor Refining Parts, 2 Weapon Refining Parts, 2 Potions, and 100 Item Box Expansions. 
• Week of February 24, 2025: 2 Armor Refining Parts, 2 Weapon Refining Parts, 2 Potions, and 100 Item Box Expansions. 

We don’t know yet if any Monster Hunter Wilds exclusive monsters will be added to Now as part of the crossover yet. 

Monster Hunter Now is available for mobile devices. Monster Hunter Wilds will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025, and another beta is on the way. The Monster Hunter Wilds crossover event will be in Monster Hunter Now between February 3, 2025 and March 31, 2025.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Heading to Now  Mobile Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Niantic and The Pokemon Company International announced we will be able to catch Black Kyurem and White Kyurem in Pokemon GO. While everyone will eventually get a chance to catch them as part of the Global Unova tour between March 1-2, 2025, they will first appear at the events in Los Angeles, California and New Taipei City in Taiwan between February 21-23, 2025.

Both Black Kyurem and White Kyurem will appear through the new Fusion phenomenon being introduced to Pokemon GO. The Special Research Story will also involve them. These forms first appeared in Pokemon Black Version 2 and White Version 2. Black Kyurem is a combination of Kyurem and Zekrom. Meanwhile, White Kyurem appears when you put together Kyurem and Reshiram. Kyurem will appear after taking part in Raids for the two fusion forms during the Pokemon GO Unova Tour. There is a slim chance it could be Shiny. Reshiram and Zekrom will also appear in raids and could possibly be shiny.

Once you have Kyurem and either Reshiram or Zekrom, you can start the fusion process. You need 30 Kyurem Candy in either case. For Black Kyurem, you also need 30 Zekrom Candy and 1,000 Volt Fusion Energy. White Kyurem needs 30 Reshiram Candy and 1,000 Blaze Fusion Energy. The Fusion Energy is earned from winning Raids with these new additions as the bosses during the tour. If you have all the materials, you can fuse them. When you do, Black Kyurem’s Glaciate becomes Freeze Shock, while White Kyurem’s turns into Ice Burn. You can turn them back into their separate Pokemon after fusing them, and that doesn’t cost any additional materials. However, know that you can only use these fused versions in this game and can’t transfer them to Pokemon Home to use in other titles.

In addition to Kyurem being shiny, other shiny forms were confirmed. Bouffalant, Deerling, Maractus, Meloetta, and Sigilyph will be shiny in-game for the first time starting with the Los Angeles and New Taipei City Pokemon GO Unova Tour. 

Here’s the list of some of the event Pokemon who will also appear. All of them have a chance of being shiny.

• Axew
• Cubchoo
• Cryogonal
• Deerling (Winter)
• Drilbur
• Joltik
• Karrablast (in eggs)
• Klink
• Larvesta (in eggs)
• Minccino
• Oshawott
• Pikachu in Hilbert Hat
• Pikachu in Hilda Hat
• Pikachu in Nate Visor
• Pikachu in Rosa Visor
• Roggenrola (in the wild and in eggs)
• Shelmet (in eggs)
• Timburr (in eggs)
• Tirtouga
• Tynamo
• Vanillite
• Woobat

The U, N, O, V, and A Unown will also be attracted by Incense during the event.

Pokemon GO is available on Android and Apple iOS devices.

The post Black Kyurem and White Kyurem ing Pokemon GO appeared first on Siliconera.

The Pokemon Company International and Niantic teased the January 2025 Community Day star for Pokemon GO, and it is going to be Sprigatito. It shared a brief video on social media that featured the character and its cry. 

The Pokemon GO Sprigatito Community Day video begins with a field of flowers like the ones we’d see in Paldea in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. At the four second mark, we hear the character’s cry. It’s then that distinctive ears pop up. The video closes out with the Community Day logo, hinting that it will be the focal point of the event when 2025 begins. 

Here’s the full teaser from the official social media . That also included the hashtag for the Community Days.

Sprigatito ed the game alongside fellow starters from that entry Fuecoco and Quaxly back in September 2023. This will mark the first time one of the three has been a Community Day star.

The next Pokemon GO Community Day will be held between December 21-22, 2024. Each day, it will run between 2pm and 5pm local time for us. On December 21, 2024, the featured Pokemon will be Bellsprout, Bounsweet, Chansey, Goomy, Litten, and Rowlet. On December 22, 2024, we’ll frequently see Galarian Ponyta and Ponyta, Mankey, Popplio, Sewaddle, and Tynamo.

We’ve seen a number of big additions to Pokemon GO in 2024. Literally, in fact. Dynamax Pokemon were added in September 2024. We’ve since seen special events with them, such as Dynamax Charmander back in November 2024.

Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS devices, and the January 2025 Community Day character will be Sprigatito.

The post Pokemon GO Getting Sprigatito Community Day in January appeared first on Siliconera.

Artist Yusuke Kozaki commented on the design of the new Palico companion introduced in Monster Hunter Now. The new Palico is named Senpai-kun and its design features a sporty neon yellow hoodie jacket, as well as paw guards.

The hoodie is fitted to give room for the Felyne’s ears, and the design uses magenta as an accent. The character is also carrying a backpack and has an extra slot for a bottle. In contrast with the grounded fantasy designs of the mainline Monster Hunter series, the new Palico character is wearing a contemporary sports and fitness attire.

In regards to this design, Yusuke Kozaki shared a message through his X (Twitter) explaining that he pursued aspects of cuteness and functionality that can be found in the real world. You can check out the design for the new Monster Hunter Now Palico companion and Kozaki’s original Japanese words here:

As a reminder, Capcom launched Season 4: Roars from the Winterwind, the new major update to Monster Hunter Now on December 12, 2024. The update adds new monsters to fight, and it introduced the Switch Axe weapon to the mobile game.

Monster Hunter Now is readily available for Android and iOS mobile devices.

The post Monster Hunter Now Artist Discusses Palico Design appeared first on Siliconera.

A Dynamaxed Charmander has appeared at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama  as part of a Pokemon Go ment for Max Monday. Max Monday will start in Pokemon Go from November 11, 2024.

The Charmander first appeared on November 6, 2024 in Japan, and it will remain there until the 11th. If you go to Osanbashi, you’ll be able to participate in the real-life event, #GoToOsanbashi. During this time, you’ll be able to use the Osanbashi Power Spot to fight Dynamaxed Pokemon, as well as take a picture with the giant Charmander statue.

The statue doesn’t actually look like a Pokemon. Instead, it’s a giant cellphone displaying a screen of a Dynamaxed Charmander in Pokemon Go. If you go at night, a giant pillar of light extends from the statue to resemble the lights in Pokemon Sword and Shield, or Go.

Max Monday will be a new weekly event in Pokemon Go. For one hour every evening (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time), you’ll get the chance to capture a new Dynamax Pokemon. There’s even a chance to get a Shiny. You can check out each month’s Max Monday Pokemon via the Pokemon Go website. For this month, you’ll be able to get:

• November 11: Charmander
• November 18: Drilbur
• November 25: Bulbasaur
• December 2: Squirtle

Pokemon Go is readily available on mobile devices.

The post Dynamax Charmander Promotes Max Monday in Pokemon Go appeared first on Siliconera.

Dynamax Pokemon are coming to Pokemon Go as part of the latest season. Select Pokemon will be able to participate in unique Max Battles from September 10-15, 2024.

Dynamax is the latest unique mechanic from the main games to make an appearance in Pokemon Go. These battles featuring gigantic Pokemon will appear on special stops throughout the game. Players can use a new item known as Max Particles to take part in Max Battles and unlock Max Moves. In addition, there will be a special research event focused on Dynamax, where players can earn max Particles and a Dynamax band for your trainer to wear.

The new mechanic will debut with a short event from September 10-15, 2024, where five Pokemon will appear in special Max Battles. These include the gen 1 starters – Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle – along with Skwovet and Wooloo. All five Pokemon and their evolutions can be Dynamaxed. It’s unclear if other Pokémon will be able to Dynamax, and it’s not clear if there will be further events around the mechanic after its closing date.

Here's the announcement tweet, which also includes a brief video and new song for the game.

Pokemon GO Max Battles will also feature a new arrangement of the Dynamax battle theme taken from Pokémon Sword and Shield. This was made by Junichi Masuda, who has been producing music for the series since the first Pokémon games.

While Dynamax is a new feature to Pokemon GO, it previously appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield. It allowed players to increase the size and strength of their Pokemon in certain battles, including Gym Battles. Some Pokemon had special Gigantamax forms that changed their appearance, although these forms don’t appear to be included in Pokemon GO just yet. It’s not the first of these kinds of mechanics to be added to the game, as Mega Evolutions from Pokemon X and Y have also appeared.

Pokemon GO is out now for iOS and Android devices, and the Dynamax event will run from September 10-15, 2024.

The post Dynamax Pokemon Are Sizing Up for Pokemon Go appeared first on Siliconera.

Niantic and The Pokemon Company International announced Pokemon GO Fest will come to Sendai, Japan, Madrid, Spain, and NYC, New York and dates for each location ahead of the July 2024 global event. Things kick off May 30, 2024 in Japan, and things end on July 14, 2024 worldwide.

The Sendai event will happen first between May 30, 2024 and June 2, 2024. Morning and afternoon experiences are available, with each involving visits to Nanakita Park. The early bird price on tickets is ¥3,100, but those will be ¥3,600 after the promotion ends. 

Madrid’s event runs June 14-16, 2024. Again, it’s divided into morning and afternoon parts set at Parque Juan Carlos I and in Madrid proper. The early bird price is €27, and it’s €32 once that offer expires. 

The New York City event runs July 5-7, 2024. In addition to the city, Randall’s Island Park will be one of the settings for it. That’s $25 if someone buys during the early bird period, and $30 outside of it. Again, morning and afternoon experiences are offered.

Finally, the Pokemon GO Fest Global experience will take place July 13-14, 2024. You don’t need a ticket to take part, but those who do buy a ticket will get to take part in the Marshadow GO Fest 2024 Special Research, an avatar item, and a badge.

Pokemon GO is available on Android and Apple iOS devices. Pokemon GO Fest 2024 will begin in Sendai on May 30, 2024.

The post Pokemon GO Fest Sendai, Madrid, NYC, and Global 2024 Dates Shared appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom and Niantic announced the first major Monster Hunter Now update, called Fulminations in the Frost, and confirmed it will add monsters like Barioth and Zinogre and the Dual Blades and Lance weapons. All of the new content is live in the game.

With the two new Monster Hunter Now weapons, Director Chihiro Kanno explained why the Dual Blades and Lance were chosen. With the Lance, it was more of a balancing situation. It includes Guard and Offensive Guard skills, making it the second weapon in the game that can. With the Dual Blades, their inclusion was due to fan demand. Kanno also noted that it will bring Demon Mode with it. 

As for the new Monster Hunter Now monsters, the inclusion of characters like Barioth and Zinogre were designed to touch on both fan-favorites and wintry themes. Zinogre was the one that was in-demand. Barioth, Cortos, and Wulg were added to help add more “Winter” monsters. As such, they’ll be around between December and March months each year. Banbaro was also noted as a winter-themed character, but Kanno didn’t note if that one will also only appear in that four month “season” as well. Finally, Kanno noted Radobaan was included so the “sleep” status effect could be added.

The new update also adds a Hunt-a-Thon to Monster Hunter Now. This mode is the only way to find Zinogre. People will need to look for Wayspots with Dimensional Rifts, then go in alone or with up to three other Hunters. People will then face multiple monster encounters.

Here’s a teaser trailer showing the Monster Hunter Now Dual Blades, Lance, and Hunt-a-Thon.

In addition to the major features, some other additions and quality of life changes are available in the update or on the way. Special Quests featuring the new monsters added in Fulminations in the Frost will appear. We’ll also see larger Item Boxes, though that won’t happen until later in December 2023. 

Finally, Kanno went over the future of Monster Hunter Now. In Spring 2024 the next major update will arrive. More details about that update and a roap to show events and content coming will appear in January 2024. While no specific monsters or weapons were teased, the announcement did note there will be story quests and seasons on the way.

Monster Hunter Now is available for mobile devices, as is the Fulminations in the Frost major update.

The post Monster Hunter Now Update Adds Barioth and Zinogre appeared first on Siliconera.

Niantic revealed that Pokemon GO will be getting more Hisuian Pokemon starting this week when the new Timeless Travels season begins. Pokemon GO: Timeless Travels will start on December 1, 2023 and run through to March 1, 2024.

In the new season of Pokemon GO, more Pokemon discovered in the Hisui region featured in Pokemon Legends: Arceus will begin to appear. Niantic has not yet announced which Hisuian Pokemon will appear, but the company has shown Hisuian variants like Typlosion, Samurott, Decidueye, and Wyrdeer in the promotional materials for Timeless Travels.

At the start of each month during the Timeless Travels season, Pokemon GO players will be able to purchase new ticketed experiences that include bonuses and Timed Research events. Players will also be able to stock up on Incubators during Timeless Travels.

Niantic also announced new dates for Community Days happening during the Timeless Travels season:

• December 16-17, 2023: Catch-up Community Day!
• January 6, 2024: ???
• January 20, 2024: ??? (Community Day Classic)
• February 4, 2024: ???

On December 3, 2023 between 2pm and 5pm local time, Hisuian Samurott will debut in its first Raid Day event as a Three-star raid. During the raid, players can receive up to five additional free Raid es from Gym Photo Disks. The Remote Raid limit will be increased to 20 between December 2, 2023 at 4pm to December 3, 2023 at 7pm. Also, chances to encounter a Shiny Hisuian Samurott will be increased. Niantic also teased that more Hisuian Pokemon raids will be coming soon.

The official trailer for the Timeless Travels season can be seen below:

Pokemon GO is available on mobile devices, and new Hisuian Pokemon will begin to debut on December 1, 2023. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available to play on the Nintendo Switch.

The post Pokemon GO Getting More Hisuian Pokemon This Week appeared first on Siliconera.

After about a month of service, Capcom and Niantic have announced that Monster Hunter Now has exceeded over ten million s. As a result, it will gift all players 5000 Zenny, a Wander Droplet, and two Potions. A Ten Million s Commemorative Pack will also appear in the store for a limited time at a later date. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

In order to get the above items, you’ll need to input a code in the web store. The code is MHNow10M. You’ll have until November 21, 2023, to claim them. Both the Monster Hunter series producer at Capcom and the COO of Niantic have expressed gratitude to all players who have ed the game thus far. They also promise that more content will appear in future updates so that players can have even more fun hunting monsters in real life.

Monster Hunter Now launched on mobile devices on September 14, 2023. It’s an augmented reality mobile game that is similar to Pokemon Go. Players need to travel to various places in real life to collect resources and hunt monsters. The game was vastly popular at launch, accumulating over 5 million installs within the first week of its global release.

Monster Hunter Now is readily available on mobile devices. Players have until November 21, 2023, to claim the free prizes.

The post Monster Hunter Now Exceeds 10 Million s appeared first on Siliconera.

Niantic announced that there will be a Monster Hunter Now Halloween event, and Kulu-Ya-Ku will be its featured monster. The bulk of the event will begin on October 25, 2023. That’s when special quests and bundles to buy will start to show up. However, the Kulu-Ya-Ku and an additional quest won’t appear until October 28, 2023. As long as someone hit Hunter Rank 11, they can take part.

The Halloween Pumpkin Hunt Quests and Halloween time-limited packs will both show up on October 25, 2023. The quests are part of the activities tied to the new Jack-o’-Head head armor people can get and upgrade. It has the Solidarity (Pumpkin Hunt) attack-boosting skill tied to it. The quests let you earn Pumpkin Tickets by playing, which improve that head armor. As for the two packs, the Halloween Pack offers two Special Carving Knives, two Paintballs, two Wander Droplets, and 10 Potions. The Halloween Pack includes the same items, but in greater quantities. So you get three Special Carving Knives, six Paintballs, six Wander Droplets, and 30 Potions.

As for the October 28, 2023 activities, that’s when the Halloween Medal Acquisition Quest and Kula-Ya-Ku come to Monster Hunter Now and stay through October 31, 2023. The quest lets you earn the limited-time Hunt Medal. The Kula-Ya-Ku looks different than usual, due to carrying a rock that looks like a Jack-o’-lantern, and also drops Pumpkin Tickets. 

This isn’t the first event to appear in the mobile game since its September 2023 launch. Another one focused on a specific monster. In the second half of last month, people had a chance to deal with a Diablos Invasion. 

Monster Hunter Now is available for mobile devices, and the Halloween event runs between October 25-31, 2023. 

The post Monster Hunter Now Halloween Event Adds Pumpkin-Wielding Kulu-Ya-Ku appeared first on Siliconera.

On October 17, 2023, the Pokemon GO Party Play feature will appear in-game. It isn’t exactly a new multiplayer element. Rather, it lets people work as a group of four to complete challenges, get extra power in Raids, and keep in touch with other players. However, it is a local-only activity, so you need to apparently be near the other folks as you all play.

How to start Pokemon GO Party Play

Niantic also introduced how we can form a party with this new feature. You’ll need to go to your profile and click Party. On that page, you can either a party by entering a code or scanning a QR or making your own. This can only happen if you hit level 15 trainer level, however. If you do meet that requirement, you can have up to three people you for your new group. You’ll then be able to check the Party tab for more insights into what others are doing or challenges.

Here’s the official Pokemon GO Party Play trailer. It shows off some of the features and how the new feature works. When you are in a group, you can complete Party Challenges together. Some of the ones listed in the example are “win two raids,” “catch two Pokemon,” and “catch two ice-type Pokemon.” It also shows how Raid Party Power looks, as well as how you can compare stats and highlights in the new party and post-party highlights sections.

Pokemon GO is available for mobile devices, and Party Play will be available starting on October 17, 2023. One of the last in-game events tied in with Detective Pikachu Returns to bring Detective Pikachu back. 

The post Pokemon GO Party Play Lets You Work with Other Players This Week appeared first on Siliconera.

Those of us who are now Monster Hunter Now hunters can take part in a Diablos Invasion event starting on September 23, 2023. This will be the first event for the game. Like Pokemon GO, it means the particular character will appear more frequently during a certain period of time for a two day period. This is designed to help people get more materials and experience. 

Like the Pokemon GO Community Day events, the Monster Hunter Now Diablos Invasion only takes place over the course of a few hours. So between 1pm and 4pm local time on September 23-24, 2023, you’ll see more Diablos around your area if you are at HR11.

Reaching that rank also means you’ll see some special missions in the Special Quests section. Those quests will be available to fulfill even when the event isn’t running, as they start at 12am local time on September 23, 2023. However, they also end at 11:59pm local time on September 24, 2023, so they are limited.  There will also be rewards for just taking a picture of the monster in AR mode as part of these challenges.

Monster Hunter Now is available on mobile devices, and the Diablos Invasion event runs September 23-24, 2023. 

The post First Monster Hunter Now Event Involves Diablos appeared first on Siliconera.