Welcome to the TechMe right home for Wednesday, March 12th, 2025. I'm Brian McCalla today.

Neantik officially sells to that Saudi-owned game developer.

I-Robot says it might not be alive in 12 months' time.

Sam Altman believes he has an AI that can write believable fiction.

Is the cavalry coming to save Intel,

and why can't we create a true AI Einstein in a data center?

Here's what you miss today in the world of tech.

It's official. Neantik Labs says it is selling its video game division, including Pokemon Go to

Saudi Arabia-owned developer Scoply for $3.5 billion, subject to regulatory approval.

Quoting the verge, should the deal go through, it will also bring Niantic's social companion apps

for Pokemon Go, Campfire, and Wayfarer under Scoply ownership.

Scoply says it will gain Niantic's entire team of exceptional game makers and category-leading

games. However, the Peridot and Ingress AR gaming titles, the latter of which is also

supported by the Wayfair mapping app, will remain under the ownership and development of Niantic

spatial. Pokemon Go attracted more than 500 million players in its first year, but its popularity was in app will remain under the ownership and development of Neantic Spatial.

Pokemon Go attracted more than 500 million players in its first year, but its popularity was impacted in 2020 when global COVID lockdowns kept people inside their homes.

The company has since canceled multiple projects and laid off at least 310 employees between

2022 and 2023 in an attempt to weather the current challenges in the market.

Today's announcement is Saudi Arabia's latest attempt to muscle its way into the gaming industry,

having used its Saudi Public Investment Fund or PIF to acquire stakes in Nintendo,

Activision Blizzard, and EA. The PIF was also used to establish

ESports and gaming company's Savvy Games Group in 2021,

...