Disney signs up Sheffield video gaming firm
SHEFFIELD development studio Sumo Digital has partnered with Disney for the animation giant’s latest gaming installment.
Having recently completed a management buy-out with investment from private equity firm NorthEdge Capital last year, Sumo will now be working on Disney Pixar’s Infinity 3.0 game.
NorthEdge backed the management team including chief executive Carl Cavers, to complete an MBO from Foundation 9 Entertainment, the US entertainment media company which acquired Sumo in 2007.
Deloitte advised NorthEdge on the MBO for the firm, which posted turnover in the year to December 2013 of £13.2m and operating profits at £899,042.
The Infinity 3.0 game will feature some of the Californian entertainment firm’s most well-known characters, from Pirates of the Caribbean to Toy Story and Frozen.
In conjunction with Avalanche Software, the Utah-based video game publishing arm of Disney, Sheffield-based Sumo will add a Star Wars theme and improve gameplay.
Employing over 240 people, Sumo Digital is headquartered in Sheffield with offices in India, and has already worked on well known games such as LittleBigPlanet3, Sonic and Sega All Star Racing and Xbox Fitness.
Carl Cavers, chief executive at Sumo Digital, said: “The investment from NorthEdge has enabled us to capitalise on significant opportunities in the market. LittleBigPlanet3 has been really well received, and we’re incredibly excited to be building on this success by working with one of the world’s biggest entertainment brands.”
Phil Frame, Investment Manager at NorthEdge Capital, added: “Disney Infinity 3.0 is an outstanding addition to Sumo’s portfolio of partners. I am looking forward to working with the team as it continues to grow its core business.”
NorthEdge Capital is a private equity firm focused on investing in businesses in the North of England with offices in Leeds and Mancheser. It has now made 11 investments from its maiden fund, representing over £148m of investment into the Northern business community during the last 28 months.
