Sumo Group
{{Short description|British video game holding company}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sumo Group Limited
| logo = Sumo Group.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2017|12}}
| hq_location_city = Sheffield
| hq_location_country = England
| key_people = Carl Cavers (CEO)
| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|Sumo Digital|Auroch Digital}}
| num_employees = 1,400{{Cite web | url=https://www.sumogroupltd.com/| title=Home {{!}} Sumo Group | website=www.sumogroupltd.com}}
| num_employees_year = 2023
| parent = Tencent (2022–present)
| website = {{Official website}}
}}
Sumo Group Limited is a British video game holding company based in Sheffield. It was formed in December 2017 as the parent company for Sumo Digital and Atomhawk, followed by its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange later that month. After purchasing a minority stake in Sumo Group in November 2019, Tencent wholly acquired the company in January 2022.
History
Carl Cavers, Paul Porter, Darren Mills and James North-Hearn, four former members of the defunct Infogrames Studios, established the developer Sumo Digital in 2003. It was bought by Foundation 9 Entertainment in March 2008 before Cavers, Porter, Mills and Chris Stockwell completed a management buyout of the studio in November 2014. Ian Livingstone served as chairman from 2015 to 2022.{{Cite web |last=Handrahan |first=Matthew |date=2015-09-22 |title=Ian Livingstone CBE joins Sumo Digital |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ian-livingstone-cbe-joins-sumo-digital |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} In December 2017, Sumo Group was formed in December 2017 as the parent company for Sumo Digital and its Atomhawk subsidiary. Sumo Group had its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange's (LSE) AIM market later that month.{{cite web |last1=Bounds |first1=Andy |title=Games developer Sumo to seek listing on UK's Aim market |url=https://www.ft.com/content/30ab16f0-da9f-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482 |website=Financial Times |date=6 December 2017}}
In November 2019, the Chinese conglomerate Tencent acquired 15 million shares of Sumo Group, representing a 10% stake. Sumo Group acquired Pipeworks Studios in October 2020 and opened a publishing label, Secret Mode, in March 2021. In July that year, Tencent and Sumo Group agreed that Tencent would, through its subsidiary Sixjoy Hong Kong Limited, wholly acquire the company for {{GBP|5.13}} per share (143.3% of the shares' previous closing price of {{GBP|3.58}}), totalling {{GBP|919 million}}. At the time, Tencent was Sumo Group's second-largest shareholder at 8.75%.
In September 2021, Sumo Group acquired Auroch Digital, a Bristol-based developer, {{GBP|6 million}}. Tencent's acquisition was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States in December 2021, followed by the High Court of Justice on 13 January 2022. Sumo Group was consequently delisted from the LSE on 17 January and became a subsidiary of Tencent through the latter's Sixjoy Hong Kong Limited holding subsidiary. On July 21, 2022, Sumo Group sold Pipeworks Studios to RuneScape developer Jagex for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-21 |title=Jagex acquires Pipeworks Studio to grow in North America |url=https://venturebeat.com/2022/07/21/jagex-acquires-pipeworks-studio-to-grow-in-north-america/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} In September 2023, it was announced Sumo Group had acquired the Leamington Spa-based game development studio, Midoki.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sophie McEvoy Staff |date=2023-09-05 |title=Sumo acquires mobile developer Midoki |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sumo-acquires-mobile-developer-midoki |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}
On June 11, 2024, the company announced it would be laying off up to 15% of its workforce and shutting down Timbre Games.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sumo-group-to-reduce-staff-by-up-to-15|title=Sumo Group to reduce staff by up to 15% |date=June 11, 2024|website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=June 11, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2024-06-11 |title=One day after trumpeting its big Summer Game Fest reveals, Sumo Group is laying off 15% of its workers and closing Timbre Games |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/one-day-after-trumpeting-its-big-summer-game-fest-reveals-sumo-group-is-laying-off-15-of-its-workers-and-closing-timbre-games/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}
On March 3, 2025, Secret Mode was sold to Emona Capital to operate as a fully independent games publisher.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Secret Mode splits from Sumo Group |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/03/secret-mode-splits-from-sumo-group |website=Gematsu |access-date=3 March 2025}}
Subsidiaries
- Auroch Digital
- Secret Mode (divested in 2025)
- Sumo Digital
- Atomhawk
- Atomhawk Advance
- Atomhawk Canada
- Atomhawk Gateshead
- Sumo India
- Sumo Bangalore
- Sumo Pune
- Midoki
- Lab42
- PixelAnt Games
- PixelAnt Czech
- PixelAnt Wroclaw
- Red Kite Games
- Sumo Leamington
- Sumo Newcastle
- Sumo Nottingham
- Sumo Sheffield
- Sumo Warrington
- The Chinese Room
- Timbre Games (closed in 2024)
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/229849/Sumo_Digital_has_separated_from_its_parent_company.php |title=Sumo Digital has separated from its parent company |first=Mike |last=Rose |date=11 November 2014 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214002621/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/229849/Sumo_Digital_has_separated_from_its_parent_company.php |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/378369/Sumo_Group_launches_Secret_Mode_to_publish_inhouse_and_indie_projects.php |title=Sumo Group launches Secret Mode to publish in-house and indie projects |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=11 March 2021 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414113849/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/378369/Sumo_Group_launches_Secret_Mode_to_publish_inhouse_and_indie_projects.php |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/385297/Tencent_agrees_to_buy_UK_game_company_Sumo_Group_for_127_billion.php |title=Tencent agrees to buy UK game company Sumo Group for $1.27 billion |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=19 July 2021 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719114354/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/385297/Tencent_agrees_to_buy_UK_game_company_Sumo_Group_for_127_billion.php |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/foundation-9-wrestles-with-sumo-digital/1100-6176808/ |title=Foundation 9 wrestles with Sumo Digital |first=Emma |last=Boyes |date=17 August 2007 |website=GameSpot |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073522/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/foundation-9-wrestles-with-sumo-digital/1100-6176808/ |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-14-sumo-acquires-auroch-digital |title=Sumo acquires Auroch Digital |first=Danielle |last=Partis |date=14 September 2021 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914222535/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-14-sumo-acquires-auroch-digital |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-09-30-sumo-group-acquires-pipeworks-for-usd100m |title=Sumo Group acquires Pipeworks for $100m |first=Matthew |last=Handrahan |date=30 September 2020 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=31 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331120724/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-09-30-sumo-group-acquires-pipeworks-for-usd100m |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-15-tencent-buying-10-percent-of-sumo-digital |title=Tencent buying 10% of Sumo Group |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=15 November 2019 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115165247/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-11-15-tencent-buying-10-percent-of-sumo-digital |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-17-uk-high-court-approves-tencents-sumo-acquisition |title=UK High Court approves Tencent's Sumo acquisition |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=17 January 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117113637/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-17-uk-high-court-approves-tencents-sumo-acquisition |url-status=live}}
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/interview-paul-porter-sumo-digital/ |title=Interview: Paul Porter, Sumo Digital |date=4 September 2017 |magazine=MCV/Develop |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719114414/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/interview-paul-porter-sumo-digital/ |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/games-designers-line-up-150m-float-rt9qskn9c |title=Games designers line up £150m float |first=Daniel |last=Dunkley |date=8 October 2017 |website=The Times |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414055821/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/games-designers-line-up-150m-float-rt9qskn9c |url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/19/tencent-has-agreed-to-buy-video-game-maker-sumo-group-for-1-27b/ |title=Tencent has agreed to buy video game maker Sumo Group for $1.27B |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |date=19 July 2021 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719114435/https://venturebeat.com/2021/07/19/tencent-has-agreed-to-buy-video-game-maker-sumo-group-for-1-27b/ |url-status=live}}
}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.sumogroupltd.com}}
{{Tencent}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2017 establishments in England
Category:2017 initial public offerings
Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions
Category:British companies established in 2017
Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies
Category:Companies based in Sheffield
Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange
Category:Holding companies established in 2017
Category:Holding companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Tencent divisions and subsidiaries