Sumo Digital

British video game developer

Sumo Digital Ltd.

Company type| Subsidiary
Industry| Video games
Predecessor| Infogrames Studios
Founded| 2003; 22 years ago (2003)
Founders|

* Carl Cavers
* Paul Porter
* Darren Mills
* James North-Hearn

Headquarters|

Sheffield

England

Key people

* Gary Dunn (managing director)
* Jim Woods (Vice-President of Sumo Sheffield)

Number of employees

| ~1,100 (2023)
Parent|

* Foundation 9 Entertainment (2007–2014)
* Sumo Group (2017–present)

Divisions|

* Sumo Sheffield
* Sumo Nottingham
* Sumo Newcastle
* Sumo Leamington
* Sumo Warrington
* Sumo Pune
* Sumo Bangalore

Subsidiaries|

* Lab42
* PixelAnt Games
* Red Kite Games
* Atomhawk
* The Chinese Room
* Timbre Games

Website| www.sumo-digital.com

Sumo Digital Ltd. is a British video game developer based in Sheffield and the principal subsidiary of Sumo Group since 2017. The company was founded in 2003 by four former members of the management team of Infogrames Studios.

## History

[edit]

Sumo Digital was founded in 2003 by Carl Cavers, Paul Porter, Darren Mills and James North-Hearn, four members of the former management team of Infogrames Studios, after that company had been closed down.[1][2] In 2007, Sumo Digital opened a subsidiary studio in India, called Sumo India.[3] In August 2007, Foundation 9 Entertainment announced that it was acquiring Sumo Digital, wherein North-Hearn became the manager of Foundation 9's European operations.[2] North-Hearn subsequently became chief executive officer for Foundation 9 in March 2008.[4] In November 2014, Sumo Digital's officers completed a management buyout from Foundation 9; in this transaction, Sumo Digital's management was backed by NorthEdge Capital and Foundation 9 was advised by GP Bullhound.[5][6] In January 2016, Sumo Digital opened a third development studio, Sumo Nottingham, in Nottingham, England.[7]

### Under Sumo Group

[edit]

Main article: Sumo Group

Parent company Sumo Group was formed in December 2017 and was floated.[8][9] In January 2018, Sumo Digital acquired CPP Newcastle, the Gateshead-based studio of CCP Games.[10] In August, the company acquired developer The Chinese Room.[11] In February 2019, Sumo Digital acquired work-for-hire video game studio Red Kite Games.[12] A few days later, the studio opened another new studio in Leamington Spa, England, to focus on mobile game development.[13] In October 2019, Sumo North West was opened in Warrington, England; led by Evolution Studios co-founder Scott Kirkland.[14] Lab42 and its 29 employees based in Leamington Spa were added to Sumo Digital's studios when Sumo Group acquired it May 2020.[15] Sumo Digital announced a partnership with the blockchain-company Dapper Labs in October 2020.[16] In February 2021, Sumo Digital acquired Polish video game studio PixelAnt Games.[17]

In February 2025, Sumo Digital abandoned plans to developing their own intellectual property.[18]

## Games

[edit]

### Games developed

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)  | Publisher(s)  | Ref(s).

|
|
|
|

2005  | Virtua Tennis: World Tour | PlayStation Portable | Sega | [19]
2006  | OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox  | [20]
Go! Sudoku | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable  | Sony Computer Entertainment | [21]
Race Driver 2006 | PlayStation Portable  | Codemasters | [22]
2007  | Super Rub 'a' Dub | PlayStation 3  | Sony Computer Entertainment  | [23]
2008  | Sega Superstars Tennis | Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360  | Sega  | [24]
New International Track & Field | Nintendo DS  | Konami | [25]
GTI Club+: Rally Côte d'Azur | PlayStation 3  | [26]
2009  | OutRun Online Arcade | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  | Sega  | [27]
Virtua Tennis 2009 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360  | [28]
Disney's A Christmas Carol | Nintendo DS  | Disney Interactive Studios | [29]
F1 2009 | PlayStation Portable, Wii  | Codemasters  | [30]
2010  | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing | Android, Arcade, BlackBerry, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360  | Sega  | [31]
Doctor Who: The Adventure Games | macOS, Microsoft Windows  | BBC Wales Interactive  | [32]
2012  | Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360  | Sega  | [31]
2013  | Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed | Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS  | Activision | [33]
2014  | LittleBigPlanet 3 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 | Sony Computer Entertainment  | [34]
Scorched: Combat Racing | Android, iOS  | Rogue Play  | [citation needed]
2017  | Snake Pass | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  | Sumo Digital  | [35]
2019  | Crackdown 3 | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One  | Xbox Game Studios | [36]
Team Sonic Racing | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  | Sega  | [13]
2020  | Spyder | iOS, tvOS | Sumo Digital  | [37]
Sackboy: A Big Adventure | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows  | Sony Interactive Entertainment  | [38]
2021  | Hood: Outlaws & Legends | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Focus Home Interactive | [39]
2023  | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S  | Gun Interactive | [40]
2024  | Stampede: Racing Royale | Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S  | Secret Mode  |
DeathSprint 66 | Microsoft Windows  |
Critter Cafe | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch  |

### Games ported

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)  | Publisher(s)  | Ref(s).

|
|
|
|

2004  | OutRun 2 | Xbox | Sega  | [41]
OutRun 2 SP | PlayStation 2 | [42]
2005  | TOCA Race Driver 2 | PlayStation Portable  | Codemasters  | [43]
2006  | TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge | PlayStation Portable  | Codemasters  | [44]
2007  | Virtua Tennis 3 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 | Sega  | [24]
2009  | Colin McRae: Dirt 2 | PlayStation Portable, Wii  | Codemasters  | [45]
2010  | Split/Second: Velocity | PlayStation Portable  | Disney Interactive Studios  | [46]
2011  | Sega Rally Online Arcade | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  | Sega  | [47]
2014  | Forza Horizon 2 | Xbox 360  | Microsoft Studios | [48]
2015  | Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious | Xbox 360  | Microsoft Studios | [49]
2018  | Payday 2 | Nintendo Switch  | Starbreeze Studios | [50]

### Games co-developed

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)  | Publisher(s)  | Ref(s).

|
|
|
|

2004  | England International Football | Xbox | Codemasters  | [51]
2006  | Broken Sword: The Angel of Death | Microsoft Windows  | THQ | [52]
2007  | Driver 76 | PlayStation Portable  | Ubisoft | [53]
2010  | Dead Space Ignition | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360  | Electronic Arts  | [54]
2011  | F1 2011 | Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita | Codemasters  | [55]
2012  | Nike+ Kinect Training | Xbox 360  | Microsoft Studios  | [56]
2013  | Xbox Fitness | Xbox One | [11]
2015  | Disney Infinity 3.0 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Android, iOS, Apple TV  | Disney Interactive Studios  | [citation needed]
2016  | Hitman | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, MacOS, Stadia  | IO Interactive | [57]
2018  | Hitman 2 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia  | [58]
2020  | Hotshot Racing | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One  | Curve Digital | [59]
2021  | Forza Horizon 4 | Microsoft Windows  | Xbox Game Studios | [60]
Forza Horizon 5 | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | [61]
Call of Duty: Vanguard | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Activision | [62]
2023  | Hogwarts Legacy | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | Warner Bros. Games | [63]
2024  | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S | [64]
2025  | Gears of War: Reloaded | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S | Xbox Game Studios | [65]

### Cancelled

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Platform(s)  | Publisher(s)  | Ref(s).

|
|
|
|

2020  | Project Nova | Microsoft Windows  | CCP Games | [66][67]

## References

[edit]

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3. ^ Handrahan, Matthew (12 January 2016). "Better together: Sumo Digital's Indian studio comes of age". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
4. ^ Androvich, Mark (17 March 2008). "North-Hearn named Foundation 9 CEO". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
5. ^ Rose, Mike (11 November 2014). "Sumo Digital has separated from its parent company". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
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7. ^ Handrahan, Matthew (28 January 2016). "Sumo Digital to open third studio in Nottingham". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
8. ^ Shead, Sam (18 December 2017). "A UK gaming studio involved with Forza and Hitman is set to IPO at £145 million". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
9. ^ Dunkley, Daniel (8 October 2017). "Games designers line up £150m float". The Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
10. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2 January 2018). "Eve: Valkyrie studio snapped up by Sumo Digital". Polygon. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
11. ^ a b Ramée, Jordan (15 August 2018). "Crackdown 3 Dev Acquires Acclaimed Studio Behind Everybody's Gone To The Rapture". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
12. ^ Blake, Vikki (1 February 2019). "Sumo Group acquires Yorkshire-based Red Kite Games". MCV. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
13. ^ a b Batchelor, James (11 February 2019). "Sumo Digital opens new mobile studio in Leamington Spa". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
14. ^ Batchelor, James (24 October 2019). "Sumo Digital opens new Warrington studio". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
15. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (15 May 2020). "Sumo Digital acquires Lab42". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
16. ^ "Sumo Leamington Announces Partnership with Dapper Labs". Sumo Digital. 1 October 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
17. ^ Dealessandri, Maria (1 February 2021). "Sumo Group acquires PixelAnt Games". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
18. ^ Phillips, Tom (4 February 2025). "Layoffs look likely at Sumo Digital, as company ditches plans to work on its own IP". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
19. ^ Reed, Kristan (1 September 2005). "Virtua Tennis: World Tour". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
20. ^ Bramwell, Tom (5 January 2006). "Sumo Digital on OutRun 2006". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
21. ^ Castro, Juan (5 April 2006). "Go! Sudoku". IGN. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
22. ^ Steinberg, Steve (27 May 2006). "Race Driver 2006". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
23. ^ Staff (5 April 2007). "Newsbriefs: Rub'a'Dub, HoMM V Expands, Wii Euro VC Adds". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
24. ^ a b Shoemaker, Brad (8 February 2008). "Sega Superstars Tennis Hands-On". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
25. ^ Robinson, Martin (18 June 2008). "New International Track & Field UK Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
26. ^ Bramwell, Tom (30 November 2008). "GTI Club + Rally Cote D'Azur". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
27. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (10 April 2009). "OutRun Online Arcade revving up for release". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
28. ^ Welsh, Oli (17 August 2010). "Virtua Tennis 4 revealed for PS3". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
29. ^ Fletcher, JC (6 October 2009). "Broken Sword creator designed Disney's Christmas Carol game". Engadget. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
30. ^ Robinson, Martin (17 November 2009). "F1 2009 UK Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
31. ^ a b Wales, Matt (5 February 2018). "Evidence of new Sonic Racing game mounts". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
32. ^ Gillen, Kieron (8 April 2010). "Gallifree: Doctor Who: The Adventure Games". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
33. ^ Green, Andy (11 October 2013). "Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed Now Available On 3DS And DS In The UK". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
34. ^ VideoGamer.com Staff (10 June 2014). "LittleBigPlanet 3 coming to PS4 this November". VideoGamer.com.
35. ^ Barton, Seth (5 April 2018). "Sumo Digital: How we sold Snake Pass, what we learnt, and why it's 'bloody hard work'". MCV. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
36. ^ Batchelor, James (2 August 2018). "Crackdown and confidentiality: Sumo Digital's approach to AAA development". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
37. ^ Cowley, Ric (20 March 2020). "Making Of: Sumo Digital lead game designer Nic Cusworth discusses how Spyder went from game jam winner to Apple Arcade release". Pocket Gamer.biz. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
38. ^ Minotti, Mike (11 June 2020). "Sackboy: A Big Adventure brings co-op platforming to PS5". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
39. ^ O'Brien, Lucy (6 August 2020). "Hood: Outlaws and Legends Announced for PS5". IGN. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
40. ^ "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Gameplay Trailer Goes for Maximum Gore, Arrives in 2023". The Escapist. 14 June 2022.
41. ^ Robinson, Martin (2 February 2017). "The safest pair of hands in video games". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
42. ^ Welsh, Oli (18 March 2009). "OutRun Online Arcade gets XBLA date". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
43. ^ Surette, Tim (11 November 2014). "Codemasters rallies two racers for PSP". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
44. ^ Bramwell, Tom (8 February 2007). "TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
45. ^ Bozon, Mark (16 September 2009). "Dirt 2 Wii Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
46. ^ Wilson, Will (7 July 2010). "Split/Second: Velocity blasting onto PSP and PSPgo in time for Christmas". PocketGamer. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
47. ^ Gaston, Martin (6 June 2011). "SEGA Rally Online Arcade Review". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
48. ^ Corriea, Alex Ray (23 June 2014). "Forza Horizon 2's Xbox 360 version is a 'different game' than on Xbox One". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2 November 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
49. ^ Corriea, Alex Ray (2015). "Games Archive 2015–2012". Sumo Digital. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
50. ^ Corriea, Damien McFerran (23 February 2018). "Sumo Digital Responsible For Porting PAYDAY 2 To Switch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
51. ^ "YORKSHIRE FOCUS: Sumo Digital". Develop. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012.
52. ^ Cocker, Guy (28 August 2006). "Broken Sword: The Angel of Death Hands-On". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
53. ^ Purchese, Robert (23 January 2007). "Driver 76 for PSP". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
54. ^ Grant, Christopher (7 July 2010). "Dead Space Ignition is a downloadable Dead Space 2 prequel, for XBLA and PSN". Engadget. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
55. ^ Orry, James (2 November 2011). "F1 2011 3DS out November 25". VideoGamer.com.
56. ^ Scammell, David (24 July 2012). "Nike+ Kinect Training crosses finish line in November". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
57. ^ "Hitman". sumo-digital.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
58. ^ "Hitman 2". sumo-digital.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
59. ^ Calvert, Darren (22 May 2020). "Hotshot Racing Powerslides Onto Nintendo Switch Next Month". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
60. ^ Forza Horizon [@ForzaHorizon] (8 February 2021). "It's been great partnering with @SumoDigitalLtd to bring Forza Horizon 4 to Steam!" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via Twitter.
61. ^ "Sumo Digital studios announce support on the development of Forza Horizon 5 | Sumo Digital". www.sumo-digital.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
62. ^ "Sumo Digital studios announce involvement in Call of Duty: Vanguard | Sumo Digital". www.sumo-digital.com.
63. ^ "Sumo Digital Studios Announce Involvement In Hogwarts Legacy | Sumo Digital". www.sumo-digital.com.
64. ^ "Sumo Warrington confirms involvement in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League | Sumo Digital". www.sumo-digital.com.
65. ^ "Gears of War: Reloaded Comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5 and Steam in Summer 2025". www.news.xbox.com.
66. ^ MCV Staff (7 October 2017). "CCP Games co-developing with Sumo Digital and PlayRaven for upcoming projects". MCV. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
67. ^ "Project Nova - CCP Games". www.ccpgames.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Sumo Group website

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*[Ref(s).]: Reference(s)
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