New interview with Pokémon Go director reveals why they think fans shouldn’t worry about Scopely

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  • After Pokémon Go dev Niantic was acquired by Scopely, fans have been somewhat worried
  • Concerns about data privacy, intrusive ads and more have all been touted
  • Fortunately, a new interview by product director Michael Steranka sees to put these at rest

Following the recent takeover of Pokemon Go developer Niantic by Scopely, developers of Monopoly Go, there has been a surge of concern among fans regarding potential changes such as increased advertisements and privacy issues. However, a new interview with Michael Steranka, one of the product directors on Pokemon Go, published on Polygon aims to alleviate these concerns.

In the interview, Steranka praises Scopely and shares his belief that both Niantic and the Monopoly Go developer have similar goals. Furthermore, he expressed confidence that Scopely would likely refrain from using obtrusive advertisements in Pokémon Go.

In a privacy-conscious move, Steranka clearly mentioned that Niantic will never hand over or commercialize player data to external entities. Furthermore, he emphasized that the shift towards Scopely’s management will have minimal impact on Niantic’s team structure, if any.


If it ain’t broke…

Even though there might be some level of corporate involvement in Pokémon Go, I find it unlikely that Scopely will interfere heavily with its management. Pokémon Go has proven successful and if anything, the main focus business-wise is expected to be on Niantic’s new AR-focused team, as they continue developing innovative uses for augmented reality.

Specifically, Steranka highlighted that the Pokémon Company plays a significant role in the decision-making for Pokémon Go, to the point where any ideas they wouldn’t entertain are effectively ruled out, either now or in the future.

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2025-03-19 14:48