On January 2, Sumo Digital announced that it has acquired CCP Games’ Newcastle studio. Newcastle was the center point for Eve Valkyrie, Eve Online VR spin-off. Sumo Digital has previously produced titles such as Hitman Episode 5: Colorado, and Microsoft’s Crackdown 3. Sumo recently floated on the stock exchange, with a launch day IPO valuation of 145 million pounds.
CCP previously worked with Sumo on its upcoming FPS and successor to Dust 514, Project Nova.
The addition of Newcastle into Sumo’s portfolio provides an opportunity to expand into VR, although no details of what Sumo will be working on has yet been released.
As part of the deal, 34 staff have been transferred to Sumo, making Newcastle Sumo’s third UK studio, and bringing the total number of studios to four. Heading up the team as Studio Director will be Owen O’Brien, who was previously Executive Producer for Eve Valkyrie.
Sumo Digital’s Managing Director, Paul Porter explained: “As we continue to expand, this was a great opportunity to bring an experienced, talented and tight-knit team on board.”
CCP CEO Hilmar Pétursson bid a farewell to the old studio in his remarks, saying “Sumo Digital is a great home for the team in Newcastle. As we say goodbye to our former colleagues we know that they will do great things there, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.”
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