By Sagar V. Mankar 
UK-based game developer Sumo Digital has announced it will stop creating its own original games and focus entirely on helping other companies make their games. This decision, according to Sumo Group’s statement, comes as the gaming industry continues to evolve, forcing companies to adapt to new market realities.
As reported by Eurogamer, this strategic shift marks a return to the company’s roots as a development partner, though it comes with some difficult consequences. “Unavoidably this transition will have an impact on our studios and people,” acknowledged CEO Carl Cavers in the company’s official statement. The company has promised to support affected employees and explore ways to retain as much talent as possible during this transition.
This isn’t the first time Sumo Digital has faced such challenges. The company already reduced its workforce by 15% in June 2024, and this new announcement suggests more changes are likely to follow.
The company, which has been operating since 2003, has grown to include multiple studios across the UK, with offices in Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, Leamington Spa, and Warrington, as well as a presence in India.
Despite these changes, Sumo Digital’s track record in the gaming industry remains impressive. The studio has contributed to numerous high-profile games, including IO Interactive’s Hitman trilogy, Forza Horizon 4 and 5 for Xbox, Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Hogwarts Legacy. They’ve also successfully led development on popular titles like Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and PlayStation’s Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
The company’s journey took an interesting turn in 2021 when Chinese technology giant Tencent acquired Sumo Group in a substantial deal worth approximately £919 million [some say $1.3 billion]. Under Tencent’s ownership, Sumo had begun exploring original IP development, creating games like Snake Pass and publishing indie titles such as DeathSprint 66 and Critter Cafe through their “Secret Mode” publishing label.
Looking ahead, Sumo Digital emphasizes that this restructuring won’t affect their existing partnerships or future commitments. As per their official statement, the company aims to strengthen its position as a “premium development partner” by focusing on what they do best: collaborating on both new and established games, providing specialized engineering services, and handling game ports to different platforms.
The company’s subsidiary studios, including the acclaimed Brighton-based The Chinese Room (known for Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Still Wakes the Deep), Atomhawk, Midoki, and Auroch Digital, are all part of this strategic realignment.