Sumo Group Offloads Publishing Arm Secret Mode in Undisclosed Deal

In a significant move, Sumo Group has divested its publishing subsidiary, Secret Mode, to Emona Capital and the company's existing leadership, Ed Blincoe and James Schall, for an undisclosed amount. Emona Capital, a seasoned financial investor with extensive experience in the gaming sector, has added Secret Mode to its portfolio, which already includes notable names such as Relic Entertainment and Amber Studio. This marks Emona's foray into game publishing. Secret Mode is set to continue operating as an autonomous publisher, with a focus on supporting independent games for PC and console platforms. With the full backing of Emona, Blincoe and Schall will remain at the helm, steering the company through its next phase. The partnership with Emona Capital is expected to enable Secret Mode to concentrate on the independent publishing landscape, driven by its passion for creativity and innovation in the indie space. In a statement, Blincoe expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the opportunity to focus exclusively on independent publishing. He also extended his gratitude to Sumo for its initial support and for facilitating Secret Mode's transition to an independent entity. Schall emphasized the company's commitment to uncovering hidden gems in the indie gaming world, empowering independent developers globally, and bringing exciting titles to players. The development marks a significant shift for Sumo Group, which launched Secret Mode in 2021 to oversee internally developed games and projects from other independent studios. However, following the announcement to restructure and focus exclusively on development services for partners, Sumo Group has opted to offload its publishing division.