News / Acquisitions
Bristol games studio sold for at least £6m
A video games company in Bristol with a “track record for developing innovative, high-quality titles” has been sold for at least £6m.
Auroch Digital, whose titles include the space game Mars Horizon, has been acquired by Sheffield-based Sumo Group, a major player in the games sector, an industry which is worth more than music and video combined.
Based in St Paul’s, Auroch Digital was founded by Thomas and Debbie Rawlings in 2010 and now has a team of 48 staff.
Thomas, who is also the studio director of Auroch Digital, says they are “really excited” to be joining the Sumo Group family.
He said: “We share so many values and Sumo will be a good home for us.
“We have a shared desire always to improve the quality and depth of the games we make, a commitment to being a positive and respectful workplace, a desire to invest in new talent, and a shared wish to make a lot of fun, engagement and gameplay for all.”
Bristol is a key strategic location for Sumo Group, who see the city as a talent hotspot for the gaming industry.
Carl Cavers, CEO of Sumo Group, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Thomas and the Auroch Digital team to the Group.
“Given our increasing focus on Own-IP [intellectual property], we are particularly excited by Auroch Digital’s pipeline of original IP.
“So, while this is a relatively small acquisition, it is a highly significant one for us strategically.”
Read more: Sector spotlight: Gaming
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