Sumo Digital partners with 2K

Sumo Digital has announced it has partnered up with publisher 2K. Whilst neither company is ready to disclose what the projects entail – although the plural intimates the partnership extends to at least two titles – Sumo did reveal development will be handled at its Sheffield Studio and the recently acquired Red Kite Games.

“We’re delighted to be working with 2K and look forward to disclosing details of the projects in due course,” said Gary Dunn, managing director at Sumo Digital.

Sumo Group earned £38.1 million in revenue in the year ending December 31st, 2018, a 35 per cent increase year-on-year (YoY). Gross profit also increased – jumping 39 per cent YoY to £18.4 million – and EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of £10.4 million, up 25 per cent YoY. However, as this is a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principle) metric, Sumo actually reports a pre-tax loss of £0.5 million – a significant improvement on 2017’s loss of £28 million.

Sumo Digital acquired The Chinese Room – which has since added a number of new staff “across a variety of disciplines” to its team – in a surprise move in August. The move is an important one for Sumo, which IPO late last year, with the company having previously been almost exclusively a work-for-hire studio. 

Sumo Digital also recently announced it has teamed up with Focus Home Interactive for a “multiplayer experience without compromise”. Describing the unannounced game as “as dark as it is violent”, the “first fruit of this collaboration” will be developed by Sumo Newcastle, the team behind EVE: Valkyrie.

The company also recently opened a new studio in Leamington Spa, UK, that will focus on the development of games for mobile devices. Chris Southall – who “has an extensive track record in the industry” and had previously held leadership roles at Sega and Codemasters – will be applying his expertise in producing free-to-play and mobile games as studio director.