Tuesday, February 4, 2024, brought the news that Sumo Group has made the strategic decision to transition Sumo Digital from being a development studio to providing development services to its partners.
“For over 20 years, we have built an enviable reputation as a trusted and respected game developer working with the most prestigious partners in the world on their commercially and creatively successful games,” wrote Carl Cavers, the CEO of Sumo Group, in a message posted on LinkedIn.
“Most recently, we embraced opportunities to develop our own IP, taking on ambitious and creative projects that showcased the incredible talent of our teams. This journey has fostered remarkable creativity and innovation, and we are deeply proud of all we have achieved together.”
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The Sheffield, South Yorkshire-based company was founded in 2017 and became one of the largest providers of end-to-end creative development and co-development services to the video games and entertainment industries. It was acquired by Tencent in 2022 and has studios in the UK, Poland, Canada, and India.
Cavers continued, “However, as the industry evolves, we must balance our creative ambitions and the commercial realities to ensure the long-term stability and success of our business. After careful consideration, we have made the strategic decision to focus Sumo Digital exclusively on development services for partners –our core strength and the foundation of our success.”
“Unavoidably this transition will have impact on our studios and people. We are committed to minimizing this impact as much as possible, exploring all options to retain talent, and supporting those affected with transparency, care, and compassion.”
Sumo Digital was established in 2003 and quickly rose to one of the largest indie developers of AAA video games in the UK. The studio has also offered co-development solutions to leading publishers in the industry including 2K, Sega, Microsoft, and Sony.
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Sumo Digital developed and published two IPs namely Snake Pass in 2017 and Spyder in 2020. The announcement means fans should not expect any new IP from Sumo Digitals going forward. The decision will not affect existing and future games already in work with partners.
“While this is a difficult moment, this change has no impact on existing or future commitments with partners and provides a better platform for us to focus on our core strengths and return to a thriving business,” Cavers said.
