Scopely Assures No Job Cuts in Niantic's Gaming Division Post-Acquisition

In an update on April 16, 2025, as reported by Mobilegamer.biz, it was revealed that the previously announced layoffs at Niantic were actually focused on the company's Spatial business, rather than its gaming division. Scopely released a statement saying, 'We will not be making any workforce reductions as part of our acquisition of Niantic's games business.' Initially, on April 16, 2025, it was announced that Niantic had laid off 68 employees after being acquired by Savvy Games Group subsidiary Scopely for $3.5 billion. This information came to light after Niantic submitted a Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification (WARN) in California, which requires a 60-day notice period before any mass layoffs. According to the latest WARN report from the California Employment Development Department, the layoffs affected 68 people and are set to take effect on May 20, 2025. The layoffs were initially announced on March 20, following an internal email from Niantic CEO John Hanke, which was later published on the company's website. Hanke explained that Niantic would be splitting into two separate companies: one for its games business and another for its technology platform, Niantic Spatial Inc. He noted that as Niantic Spatial Inc. begins its new journey, it will need to operate like a startup. Hanke stated, 'We carefully evaluated the structure we believe is needed for the new company, and after a lot of consideration, it became clear that some roles would not be required given our new focus.' He continued, 'These decisions are never easy; they in no way reflect the individuals' performance, and we understand their impact on people's lives. We deeply appreciate the talented individuals who helped us get here and for their many contributions, and will support them as they transition to new opportunities.'