 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | March 2011 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Number of locations | 19 (2026) |
Key people | |
| Products |
|
Number of employees | 3,000[1] (2025) |
| Parent | Savvy Games Group (2023–present) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | scopely |
Scopely, Inc. (/ˈskoʊpli/ SKOHP-lee) is an American mobile video game developer and publisher.[2] The company is headquartered in Culver City, California, with offices across North America, Central America, EMEA and Asia, with its largest location in Barcelona, Spain.[3] It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, an entity founded and managed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which purchased Scopely for $8.9 billion in 2023.[4]
As of 2024, Scopely ranked as the #2 mobile video game developer in the world, and #1 in the U.S., by revenue.[5] Scopely's most profitable and well-known games include MONOPOLY GO!, Pokémon GO, and Pikmin Bloom, the latter two of which originated from Niantic's gaming profile following a 2025 acquisition.[6] Scopely has completed more than ten acquisitions.[7]
In addition to acquiring gaming companies, Scopely maintains internal game development studios, and has partnered with external studios to create free-to-play games.[8][9] Scopely develops both original games, and those based on existing entertainment brands.[10]
History
Founding and growth
Scopely was founded in 2011 in Los Angeles, California, by Walter Driver, Ankur Bulsara, Eric Futoran and Eytan Elbaz.[11][12] Previously, Elbaz co-founded Applied Semantics, which was acquired by Google in 2003, and Bulsara was a software developer at MySpace.[12]
In 2014, former Disney Interactive and Electronic Arts executive Javier Ferreira joined Scopely.[13] Former Disney Interactive executive Tim O'Brien joined in 2014 as chief revenue officer.[14]
In October 2017, Scopely announced the opening of an office in Barcelona, Spain.[15]
In June 2019, the company shared it had surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenues.[16]
In July 2021, the company invested $50 million in three games studios in Europe to co-create games and invest in developers.[17]
Savvy Games Group announced its intent to acquire Scopely for $4.9 billion on April 5, 2023.[4][18][19] While this acquisition was completed, Scopely remains an independently operated company, headquartered in Culver City, California, part of the Savvy portfolio.[20][21]
In January 2025, Scopely contributed to the FireAid benefit concert, produced by Irving Azoff, as a presenting sponsor to help wildfire relief efforts in the company's founding city of Los Angeles. Fundraising efforts from the benefit raised more than $100 million.[22][23]
Acquisitions
In July 2014, Scopely acquired Space Inch's Disco Bees.[24]
In May 2019, the company acquired Dublin-based DIGIT Game Studios, its collaborator on the mobile 4X strategy game Star Trek Fleet Command.[25]
In January 2020, Scopely purchased FoxNext Games Los Angeles and its RPG game MARVEL Strike Force, along with Cold Iron Studios, from The Walt Disney Company for an undisclosed amount.[26] Scopely later sold Cold Iron Studios to Daybreak Game Company.[27]
In April 2020, the company acquired PierPlay game studio, its collaborator on the mobile word game Scrabble GO.[28]
In October 2021, Scopely acquired Game Show Network's online gaming division (GSN Games) from Sony in a $1 billion cash and stock deal. Sony Pictures took a minority stake in the company as a result.[29][30]
In 2022, the company acquired the mobile party battle royale game Stumble Guys from Kitka Games.[31]
In June 2023, Scopely acquired Scotland-based Tag Games studio.[32]
On March 12, 2025, Niantic, Inc. announced plans to sell the majority of its video game business to Scopely in a reported $3.5 billion deal, including games Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, and companion apps Campfire and Wayfarer.[33] The deal was completed on May 29, 2025 with Niantic as a subsidiary of Scopely.[34] Niantic's non-video game business, in addition to the games Ingress and Peridot, was spun-off into a separate entity named Niantic Spatial Inc, with Scopely investing $50 million to the company.[33][35]
Recognition
In August 2015, Scopely ranked #9 on Inc.'s List of the 5,000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America, and #1 in the U.S.[36]
In May 2024, Scopely was recognized by Time magazine on their annual TIME100 list recognizing the "100 Most Influential Companies in the World."[37] In June 2025, the company made the list for the second consecutive year.[38]
Game development
Early years
In January 2012, Scopely launched its first free-to-play mobile game Dice With Buddies,[39] followed that year by Jewels With Buddies[40] and Bubble Galaxy With Buddies,[41] which debuted as the #1 free app in the App Store.[42] In April 2013, Scopely launched Mini Golf MatchUp.[8][43] The game was #1 for free apps in the App Store in 49 countries[8] and the #1 app on both the iPhone and the iPad in the U.S.[44]
In September 2013, the company launched Wordly, a spelling game that reached #1 on the top free apps chart in the App Store, and was the first game with single-player mode developed by Scopely.[45]
In November 2013, Scopely launched the Skee-ball game Skee-ball Arcade, which reached #1 overall in the Apple App Store.[46]
Partnerships
In April 2015, Scopely partnered with Hasbro to launch the only officially licensed Yahtzee game, Yahtzee With Buddies, on iOS and Android.[47] The game saw more than 1 million downloads in its first four days.[48][49]
In May 2015, the company signed a multi-year partnership deal with Ireland's DIGIT Game Studios.[50] The collaboration led to the 2019 acquisition of the studio.[51]
In August 2015, Scopely partnered with The Walking Dead series creator Robert Kirkman and Skybound Entertainment to create The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, the first free-to-play mobile game based on the graphic novels. The game saw 4 million downloads in its first week, was a Top 25 Grossing Game in 17 countries, and became the 6th consecutive #1 game released by Scopely.[49][52] In 2018, the game reached 40 million downloads since its release.[53]
In 2016, the company partnered with Sony Pictures TV to launch Wheel of Fortune: Free Play, based on the television game show.[54] The same year, Scopely released Dice With Ellen, a Yahtzee-style dice game featuring television host Ellen DeGeneres.[55]
In 2017, Scopely announced a partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment and launched the match-3 game WWE Champions.[56] It won a Webby Award for People's Voice in the sports games category.[57]
By 2018, the company had four top-grossing games: WWE Champions, The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Wheel of Fortune: Free Play, and Yahtzee With Buddies.[58]
In November 2018, Scopely launched Star Trek Fleet Command, partnering with CBS Interactive and DIGIT Game Studios.[59] The game went on to surpass $50 million in revenue in its first four months.[60]
In December 2018, Scopely launched Looney Tunes World of Mayhem, a multi-player role-playing game featuring Looney Tunes characters licensed from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, developed in partnership with Aquiris Game Studio.[9][61] The game was downloaded more than one million times on its launch day.[62]
In 2020, Scopely launched Scrabble GO.[63] In June 2020, it was announced that the game was the "best launch ever for a mobile word game", based on figures of over 2.5 million people are playing daily for an average of 100 minutes each day.[64]
In April 2023, the company launched Monopoly Go!,[65] which became the biggest mobile game of 2023, generating $1 billion in revenue that year.[66] By 2025, the mobile game went on to become the fastest in history to gross $3 billion.[67]
In February 2024, Scopely ended its publishing partnership with Global Worldwide game studio on the title Kingdom Maker and redeployed the Scopely team supporting the project to other games.[68]
Funding
In 2013, Scopely raised a seed round of $8.5 million,[40] led by Anthem Venture Partners, with participation from The Chernin Group, Greycroft Venture Partners, and New Enterprise Associates.[69] In 2014, Scopely raised a $35 million Series A funding round, led by Evolution Media.[46][70] In 2016, Scopely raised $55 million in Series B funding.[56] In 2017, the company announced $60 million in Series C funding, led by Revolution Growth,[12] and then raised an additional $100 million from Greenspring Associates in 2018.[58]
In 2019, the company announced $200 million in Series D financing, valuing the company at $1.7 billion.[71] In March 2020, the company announced another $200 million in Series D financing, valuing the company at $1.9 billion.[72]
In October 2020, Scopely announced $340 million in Series E financing, valuing the company at $3.3 billion.[73]
References
- ^ "Scopely 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition | PitchBook".
- ^ "Scopely". Growjo.com.
- ^ Shanley, Patrick (September 12, 2019). "Scopely Taps Former Disney Exec to Head New Japan Offices". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- Taylor, Haydn (October 5, 2017). "Scopely to open Barcelona office:LA-based mobile publisher going international after receiving $60m investment earlier this year". Games Industry. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- "Scopely Acquires Dublin-Based DIGIT Game Studios, Expanding European Footprint". The Hollywood Reporter. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019. - ^ a b "Saudi's Savvy Games Buys Gamemaker Scopely For $4.9 Billion". Bloomberg.com. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Batchelor, James (December 20, 2024). "GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2024". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (March 12, 2025). "Scopely to Acquire 'Pokémon Go' Maker Niantic's Games Division for $3.5 Billion". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (October 1, 2024). "Why Scopely Will Go Big (Video) Game Hunting for M&A". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c LaPorte, Nicole (September 24, 2013). "Scopely finds hit apps the same way Hollywood lands blockbusters". Fast Company. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
- ^ a b Chmielewski, Dawn (August 16, 2018). "Scopely To Bring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck And Other Looney Tunes Characters To Mobile Gaming". Deadline. Deadline Holloywood. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Chmielewski, Dawn C. (August 16, 2018). "Scopely To Bring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck And Other Looney Tunes Characters To Mobile Gaming". Deadline. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Lagorio-Chafkin, Christine (August 9, 2016). "The Mobile Gaming Future, According to the Founder Who Lives It Every Day". Inc. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c Spangler, Todd (June 15, 2017). "Mobile Games Maker Scopely Banks $60 Million With Valuation Over $600 Million". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ Shields, Mike (April 15, 2014). "Hot Mobile Games Company Scopely Nabs Former Disney Executive". WSJ. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Jordan, Jon (May 23, 2014). "Ex-Disney Mobile exec Tim O'Brien joins Scopely as CRO". PocketGamer. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ Chapple, Craig (October 9, 2017). "The Walking Dead: Road to Survival developer Scopely opening new studio in Barcelona". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ Perez, Matt. "Mobile Games Publisher Scopely Hits $1 Billion In Lifetime Revenue". Forbes. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (July 19, 2021). "Scopely invests $50M in 3 European mobile game studios". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ "Savvy Games Group to buy mobile game publisher Scopely for $4.9B". VentureBeat. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Savvy Games completes acquisition of Scopely in e-gaming push". Arab News. July 13, 2023.
- ^ "An exciting new chapter for Scopely…". www.scopely.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ "Scopely Headquarters | STUDIOS Architecture". studios.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ Tomás Mier (January 21, 2025). "FireAid L.A. Benefit Concert Unveils Venue Lineups, Waives Service Fees". rollingstone.com. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
AMC Theatres, iHeartRadio, Apple Music, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video, Max, SiriusXM, SoundCloud, Veeps and YouTube. Scopely, Capital Group, Venmo, American Express, Intuit, and UBS are among the show's sponsors.
- ^ "Fundraising Efforts Continue, FireAid Estimates More Than $100 Million Raised to Support Los Angeles Wildfire Recovery and Prevention – Annenberg Foundation". annenberg.org/. February 10, 2025. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
The presenting partners of FireAid were Kaiser Permanente, Live Nation and Scopely[.]
- ^ Shaul, Brandy. "Scopely Announces Publishing Partnership with Make it Rain Developer Space Inch". Inside Mobile Apps. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Scopely Acquires Dublin-Based DIGIT Game Studios, Expanding European Footprint". The Hollywood Reporter. May 9, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (January 22, 2020). "Disney Sells FoxNext Games Los Angeles And Cold Iron Studios To Scopely". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (August 11, 2020). "Daybreak Games acquires Cold Iron Studios, saving the next Alien game". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ "Scopely acquires PierPlay Game Studio, co-creators of Scrabble® GO". Scopely. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (October 18, 2021). "Sony Pictures Entertainment to Sell GSN Games Division to Scopely for $1 Billion". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (October 18, 2021). "Sony Sells GSN Games Studio to Scopely for $1B". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (September 8, 2022). "Scopely acquires Stumble Guys battle royale game from Kitka Games". venturebeat.com. Venture Beat. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Griffiths, Daniel (June 29, 2023). "Scopely acquires Dundee-based Tag Games". Pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "Niantic's Next Chapter: Introducing a New Home for Niantic Games and a New Future for Niantic Spatial Inc". nianticlabs.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ Astle, Aaron (June 2, 2025). "Pokémon Go under new ownership as Scopely closes $3.5bn Niantic deal". www.pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ "Remaining by your side". Peridot. March 12, 2025. Archived from the original on November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
Our friends at Pokémon GO, Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom found a long-term home with Scopely, a leading mobile-games company. However, we're going on a new adventure. Dots will stay with the team that created them, at a newly-created company, Niantic Spatial.
- ^ "Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies in America". Inc. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ Burga, Solcyré (May 30, 2024). "TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Scopely". TIME. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ Mullich, Joe. "TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Scopely". TIME. Archived from the original on September 27, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ Dave, Paresh (July 26, 2016). "Scopely, Kite & Lightning and Masterclass among week's L.A. tech highlights". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Cutler, Kim-Mai (September 19, 2012). "Confirmed: Scopely's New $8.5M Funding Round Was Not Wrapped In Bacon". Techcrunch. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ Fahey, Mike (October 24, 2012). "Every Friend Recruited for Bubble Galaxy with Buddies is Clean Drinking Water for Burkina Faso". Kotaku. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Carney, Michael (February 28, 2013). "Scopely announces first five developer partners, adding Double Fine and others to publishing platform". Pando. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Jordan, Jon (April 9, 2013). "Following Mini Golf Matchup's success, Scopely adds Darion Lowenstein as games VP". Pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ "MiniGolf Match Up Ranking". Appannie. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ Shaul, Brandy (September 6, 2013). "Competitive word game Wordly climbs to the top of free iOS charts". Adweek. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Ha, Anthony (November 13, 2014). "Scopely Raises $35M For Its Mobile Gaming Platform". TechCrunch. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- ^ Dean, Takahashi (April 9, 2015). "Yahtzee with Buddies Brings the Popular Family Dice Game to Mobile and to Apple Watch". Venture Beat. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- Shaul, Brandy (April 9, 2015). "Scopely Launches Yahtzee With Buddies on iOS, Android". SocialTimes. AdWeek. Retrieved April 9, 2015. - ^ Diaz, Justin (April 20, 2015). "YAHTZEE With Buddies Reaches More Than 1 Million Downloads In The First Four Days". AndroidHeadlines. Android Headlines. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Beer, Jeff (November 4, 2015). "How Scopely Plans To Be The Biggest Entertainment Network In Your Pocket". Fast Company. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (May 27, 2015). "Scopely teams up with Ireland's Digit Game Studios to grab bigger slice of $30B mobile game market". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^ Jordan, Jon (June 27, 2017). "The explosive rise of Scopely". Pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Shields, Mike (September 2, 2015). "How Scopely and PewDiePie Got Four Million People To Download 'Walking Dead' Game in One Week". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Crecente, Brian (2018). "'The Walking Dead' Video Games: An Oral History". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- ^ Slead, Evan (September 22, 2016). "Wheel of Fortune creates official mobile game, complete with Pat and Vanna". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ "It's time to roll the dice... with Ellen". AppAdvice. August 25, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Spangler, Todd (July 26, 2016). "Mobile-Game Maker Scopely Raises $55 Million". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ "2018 Webby Awards". webbyawards.com. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Spangler, Todd (June 19, 2018). "Mobile-Games Company Scopely Raised Additional $100 Million for Acquisitions, Investments". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Romano, Nick (November 28, 2018). "Star Trek Beyond crew assemble in Fleet Command game footage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Jordan, Jon (June 3, 2019). "The secret of Scopely's success? How we think about IP, says CEO". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (December 13, 2018). "Scopely launches Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem character battle mobile game". Venture Beat. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Chapple, Craig (December 24, 2018). "Scopely's Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem topped 1m downloads on launch day". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
- ^ Perez, Matt. "Mobile Game Company Scopely Releasing 'Scrabble Go' With Hasbro And Mattel". Forbes. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ Forde, Matthew (June 4, 2020). "Making Of: How Scrabble GO achieved "the best launch ever for a mobile word game"". www.pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ "Monopoly Go! is Scopely's latest Hasbro board game adaptation". Venture Beat. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (November 16, 2023). "Scopely's Monopoly Go rolls past $1B in revenue". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "Scopely's "MONOPOLY GO!" Fastest Mobile Game Ever to Gross $3 Billion". sensortower.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ Griffiths, Daniel (February 13, 2024). "Scopely's Kingdom Maker team sees lay-offs". PocketGamer.biz. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Carney, Michael (September 19, 2012). "Scopely Raises $8.5M, Doesn't Want to Reveal What It's Building (But I Will)". PandoDaily. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (November 13, 2014). "Mobile-Games Startup Scopely Raises $35 Million Led by Evolution Media, Highland Capital". Variety. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- ^ "Video-Game Maker Scopely Is Valued at $1.7 Billion in New Round". Bloomberg. October 29, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ "Mobile-Games Company Scopely Raises $200 Million From Chernin Group, Advance". Variety. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Scopely raises $340 million at a $3.3 billion valuation as gaming grabs investors' interest". October 28, 2020.
Further reading
- Shields, Mike (September 2, 2015). "How Scopely and PewDiePie Got Four Million People To Download 'Walking Dead' Game in One Week". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Boorstin, Julia (March 8, 2016). "Scopely aims to build new kind of mobile game business". CNBC. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- "Scopely, Kite & Lightning and Masterclass among week's L.A. tech highlights". Los Angeles Times. July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Takahashi, Dean (March 23, 2014). "How Scopely is building a hit factory, one mobile game at a time (interview)". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
External links
- Video game companies based in Greater Los Angeles
- Video game companies established in 2011
- Video game development companies
- Video game publishers
- Mobile game companies
- American companies established in 2011
- Companies based in Culver City, California
- 2011 establishments in California
- 2023 mergers and acquisitions
