Foundation 9 snaps up Sumo Digital

Foundation 9 Entertainment has bought Sheffield-based developer Sumo Digital for an undisclosed sum.

Sumo has previously worked on titles as diverse as Outrun 2, Broken Sword and the PlayStation Network title Super Rub ‘a’ Dub, and recently established a development facility in Pune, India. The studio will be the first overseas software house owned by the development conglomerate.

As part of the deal, Sumo CEO James North-Hearn will become MD of Foundation 9 Europe and will be in charge of overseeing all European operations – implying that Foundation 9 are looking to acquire more studios this side of the Atlantic.

"We’re excited to join Foundation 9 and help expand its European presence. We believe joining F9E will bring us tremendous opportunities for growth in the future, as well as the chance to offer many more great games to our publishing partners," said North-Hearn.

Sumo Digital will join Amaze Entertainment, Backbone Entertainment, The Collective, Digital Eclipse, ImaginEngine, Pipeworks and Shiny Entertainment as part of the Foundation 9 group.

"The team at Sumo has done a tremendous job building a world class studio in a relatively short amount of time," said Jon Goldman, chairman and CEO of F9E.

"By bringing them into our family of existing studios, we’re now able to tap into the vast talent pool of game developers overseas and expand the company’s presence in the sports and racing genres."

The transaction is expected to be finalised in the third quarter of 2007.