The studio behind Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Sumo Digital, is currently hiring for two new AAA games, both of which have yet to be announced. Sumo Digital has grown immensely in recent years, having signed a deal with 2K Games in 2019 to develop new projects. Not too long thereafter, the company opened its eighth studio, Sumo North West, which was established as a support team.
Before the announcement of Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Hood: Outlaws & Legends, Sumo Digital revealed it had a total of 21 projects in development, 14 of them still unrevealed. It now stands to reason that 12 titles remain under wraps. What they could be is anyone's guess, particularly given the studio's versatility. From its Virtua Tennis and Crackdown days to tackling fun kart racers like Team Sonic Racing, Sumo Digital could have its hands full with any number of genres.
Twitter user MauroNL recently stumbled across job ads for Sumo Digital's Sheffield and Newcastle, UK-based offices. Details attached to the postings note the company is recruiting for two unannounced projects. One such title is a third-person multiplayer action game; the other will see the studio explore an existing AAA property. A listing for Senior Game Designer on the Sumo Digital website calls for someone who's passionate to "work on the next game in an established AAA open-world action franchise." Meanwhile, whoever Sumo hires for the Lighting Artist position will join "an experienced team currently working on an unannounced 3rd person multiplayer action title."
Sumo's unspecified work on an established open-world property arguably counts as the most interesting detail. After all, the studio has been assigned to notable open-world IP in the past, namely Crackdown and the still-unfinished Dead Island 2. (Homefront: The Revolution developer Dambuster Studios is now in charge of the Dead Island sequel.)
The most imminent title from Sumo Digital, Hood: Outlaws & Legends, will release in just a few months' time on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S platforms. Targeting a May 10 launch, the multiplayer game will introduce the world of Robin Hood to the PvPvE space. What's been shown, thus far, seems promising enough, as it aims to allow players to explore both stealth and open combat approaches. It's a far departure from the likes of Sackboy, but Sumo's ability to spread its wings and venture in unexpected directions continues to impress.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is available now on the PS5 and PS4.