Niantic assured the fans that the fate of "Pokémon GO" won't be screwed even if it's now under Scopely's control.
With fans fearing for the worst, including blanket changes or the shutdown of the popular AR game, Niantic has finally spoken out: "Pokémon GO" isn't going away.
No Overhaul in Sight for 'Pokémon GO's' Gameplay Basics
In an internal meeting conducted jointly by Niantic and Scopely employees, company officials assured that the fundamental experience of "Pokémon GO" will not change.
Instead of disrupting the success that Niantic did with "Pokémon GO," Scopely is projected to support and continue the winning elements that made the game one of the best mobile games.
"The direction of our game will not undergo any major changes under the influence of Scopely. They will just be supporting its further improvement, and we will keep doing what we've been doing since the beginning. To put it more bluntly, please rest assured that we will not be shutting down the game," a Niantic representative told IT Media via a translated report from Automaton.
This guarantee is important, particularly in the aftermath of a $3.5 billion deal that transferred Niantic's entire gaming unit, including "Pokémon GO," to Scopely. The assurance suggests that though management will be passing from one hand to another, the DNA of "Pokémon GO" will not change.
Apprehensions Rise Over Future Monetization
Even with the assurance on the direction of gameplay, there is one huge question that is left out: monetization.
According to The Gamer, Scopely has a reputation for aggressive monetization in games such as "Marvel Strike Force" and "Star Trek Fleet Command," both infamous for costly microtransactions and pay-to-win strategies.
With so much invested, gamers doubt that monetization tactics will be left alone. Scopely's model is based on in-app buys and long-tail monetization, which has many in the "Pokémon GO" universe concerned about in-game pricing, event passes, and premium items in the future.
Although "Pokémon GO" isn't game over yet, players should expect that ad expansion could potentially come. However, in our previous report, Niantic said that ads won't come to the beloved Pokémon game.
