Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital business and news from across the web.- New TIGA Board reinforces commitment to championing the UK games industryTIGA, the UK video games industry's trade association, has appointed new members to its Board of Directors, including Gemma Brown, Ben Gunstone, Dan Hett, Greg Howson, Marco A. Minoli, Stuart Muckley, Tim Repa-Davies, Sitara Shefta, and John Tearle. These appointments aim to strengthen TIGA's advocacy for games businesses across the country, focusing on growth, skills development, and policy initiatives. The new board members bring diverse expertise from various studios and specialisms within the UK games sector.
TIGA appoints nine industry veterans to board of directorsThe UK video games trade body TIGA has appointed nine new industry veterans to its board of directors, including leaders from Dovetail Games, Stainless Games, and Supermassive Games. These appointments aim to strengthen TIGA's advocacy for UK games companies. Elaine Green of Nellyvision was previously appointed chair.- New TIGA Board Reinforces Commitment to Championing the UK Games IndustryTIGA, the trade association for the UK video games industry, has appointed new members to its Board of Directors, reinforcing its commitment to advocating for and supporting games businesses. The new board members bring diverse expertise from across the sector, aiming to strengthen policies that foster growth, attract investment, and develop talent within the UK games industry.
- Xbox Game Studios Boss Is Out Ahead Of Reported Layoffs And Other Major Changes To “Reset” XboxCraig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, is departing Microsoft after 15 years, along with his chief of staff Louise O'Connor. These changes precede reported layoffs and potential studio closures as Xbox CEO Asha Sharma aims to "reset" the business. The departures follow comments from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the need to make Xbox a sustainable business.
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor step downXbox Game Studios leader Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor have stepped down from their roles. Duncan, who previously led Rare, oversaw numerous internal studios, while O'Connor was an executive producer at Rare. Their departures coincide with reports of potential job cuts and a business 'reset' at Xbox.
Arm's ray-traced demo of its neural technologies for mobile phone gaming proves that there's an alternate chip…Arm has partnered with Sumo Digital to showcase its new neural rendering technologies for mobile GPUs with a tech demo called Neural Dawn. The demo features ray tracing, AI denoising, and frame generation, suggesting potential applications beyond phones, particularly for handheld gaming PCs. While the technology is impressive, widespread adoption by game developers remains a significant hurdle.
New Arm tech enables the use of Unreal Engine MegaLights on mobileArm has unveiled its new neural graphics technology, demonstrated in the mobile game Neural Dawn developed by Sumo Digital. This technology enables the use of Unreal Engine MegaLights and ray-tracing on mobile devices for the first time, previously only available on PC and consoles. The Arm Mali GPU, incorporating machine learning, aims to deliver desktop-class visuals while preserving battery life, allowing for longer gaming sessions and dynamic lighting previously unachievable on mobile platforms.- PQUBE PARTNERS WITH SUMO DIGITAL TO BRING SPYDER: AGENT 8 TO PC AND CONSOLESPQube and Sumo Digital have partnered to release the stealth adventure game Spyder: Agent 8 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. A trailer and a Steam demo are now available, introducing players to Agent 8, a tiny robotic spider tasked with saving the world from the Syndicate of International Nasties (S.I.N.) in a retro-futuristic 1970s spy setting.
Spyder: Agent 8, a retro-futuristic game with puzzles, stealth, and adventure, announced for Nintendo SwitchPQube and Sumo Digital have announced Spyder: Agent 8, a retro-futuristic spy adventure game for the Nintendo Switch, slated for release by the end of 2026. Players control Agent 8, a tiny robot spider superspy, tasked with thwarting the evil organization S.I.N. The game blends puzzle-solving, stealth mechanics, and adventure elements within a 1970s spy film aesthetic.- Retro-futuristic stealth adventure game Spyder: Agent 8 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PCPublisher PQube and developer Sumo Digital have announced Spyder: Agent 8, a retro-futuristic stealth adventure game. The title is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 634This weekend's gaming discussion features staff sharing their current titles, with Jamie O'Neill playing Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on his PS Vita and Sammy Barker enjoying Coffee Talk. The article invites readers to share their own weekend gaming plans in the comments.
Alex Oxspring and The Stupendium found new studio Stupendium SoftworksGame designer Alex Oxspring and musician The Stupendium have launched a new studio named Stupendium Softworks. Their first project is an unnamed first-person survival horror game, with a commitment to sustainable development practices and avoiding AI tools. Both Oxspring and The Stupendium have prior collaborative experience on titles like OnlyCans: Thirst Date and Polyarmory: High Calibre Love.
Industry veteran and YouTube musician launch new indie studio, Stupendium SoftworksIndustry veteran Alex Oxspring and musician The Stupendium have launched a new UK-based indie studio, Stupendium Softworks. The studio is committed to sustainable development practices and will not use generative AI in its games. Their first title is a first-person horror survival game.
NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager VIDEO ReviewNutmeg! is a deckbuilding management game that aims to be an accessible entry point into the genre. Players manage a soccer team, aiming for championships while handling marketing, player trades, and staff hiring. The game simplifies complex management mechanics but suffers from a lack of transparency in its tutorial and strategic depth, making some choices feel arbitrary.
'A scope document is not your plan:' Laying the groundwork for indie successBlossom Arcade founder Sophie Smart advises indie developers to distinguish between a scope document and a concrete plan, emphasizing the need for milestones and goals. She recommends the Scrum framework for iterative development and open communication, while cautioning against the rigid Waterfall methodology which can lead to production bottlenecks.
Retro Football Management Card Game Nutmeg Launches on SteamNutmeg, a retro football management card game, has launched on Steam and is fully playable on Steam Deck. Developed by Sumo Digital studios and published by Secret Mode, the game simulates a 20-year journey through English football divisions in the 1980s and 1990s, featuring a fast-paced card system for matches and club management elements. A portion of sales will be donated to the Joey Beauchamp Foundation and the Dalian Atkinson Legacy Trust.
Nutmeg is a deckbuilding football management game with a cute spin on the beautiful gameNutmeg! is a new deckbuilding football management game that puts players in the role of a team manager during the 1980s and '90s. The game features two modes, Broadcast and Hardcore, and utilizes a card-based system for match actions, with mechanics for training, merchandise, sponsorships, and transfers. Nutmeg! is available now on PC via Steam.- NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager Now AvailableNUTMEG!, a nostalgic deckbuilding football manager from Sumo Digital and Secret Mode, is now available on PC via Steam. The game tasks players with managing a fourth-division English team through the 1980s and 1990s, featuring card-based gameplay and the ability to recruit legendary players. A portion of sales through November will benefit the Joey Beauchamp Foundation and the Dalian Atkinson Legacy Fund.
Sumo Digital partners with Arm to test AI-powered neural graphics techSumo Digital is partnering with chip manufacturer Arm to evaluate the application of AI-powered neural graphics technology in mobile games. This collaboration aims to enable PC-quality graphics on mobile devices, with Arm's technology set to ship in GPUs this year. The partnership is expected to demonstrate significant improvements in GPU workload savings and frame rates.
Hyper Light Drifter studio Heart Machine voluntarily recognises unionIndie developer Heart Machine has voluntarily recognized a union formed by 13 of its staff members, following several rounds of layoffs. Separately, Sumo Digital is partnering with Arm to evaluate new AI-powered neural technology for mobile game development, aiming to bring PC-quality graphics to mobile platforms.