Sumo Group acquires UK studio Auroch Digital for $8.3 million

Sumo Group has acquired UK studio Auroch Digital for an initial £6 million ($8.3 million), and will pay an additional deferred consideration if Auroch meets certain performance targets by 2024.

Auroch was founded in 2010 and has worked on titles like Mars Horizon, Ogre, and Brewmaster. The studio will continue to be led by co-founder and CEO Tomas Rawlings following the deal.

Sumo, which is in the process of being acquired by Tencent for $1.27 billion, is the parent company of Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Snake Pass developer Sumo Digital. It also owns a number of other studios including The Chinese Room Red Kite Games, and PixelAnt Games.

Commenting on the move, Sumo boss Carl Cavers said the company was impressed with Auroch's pipeline of original franchises. "Given our increasing focus on Own-IP, we are particularly excited by Auroch Digital’s pipeline of original IP," he said. "So, while this is a relatively small acquisition, it is a highly significant one for us strategically."