Former Crytek UK MD to Build Sumo’s 2nd UK, 3rd Global Studio.
8th March 2016. Sheffield, UK. Sumo Digital, a world class and award winning independent developer, currently working on a range of AAA titles including Crackdown 3, today announced Karl Hilton as Studio Director of its second UK studio in Nottingham.
Karl has an impressive industry track record: as the former Managing Director of Crytek UK his studio delivered several successful AAA titles including Crysis 2 and 3 and contributed key technology to the CryENGINE technology platform; he was a founder member and director of Free Radical Design and spent five years at Rare Ltd. He has also recently delivered programme management, business mentoring and business finance services for Creative England and Grant Thornton’s Growth Accelerator program.
Karl Hilton, Studio Director of Sumo Nottingham said, “We are looking to create a ‘state of the art’ studio in Nottingham and will build a team of experienced and new talent dedicated to creating the highest quality gaming experiences. Working closely with the Sumo studios in Sheffield and Pune, the Nottingham studio will build on the technical and creative excellence that Sumo is well known for.”
Paul Porter, COO of Sumo added, “Karl’s industry knowledge and expertise will lead Sumo Nottingham in building a world class team to develop exciting games across console, VR, PC and mobile platforms.”
About Karl Hilton
After completing university with a BA in Architecture and an MA in Computer Visualisation and Animation, Karl went to work for Rare Ltd where he was Lead Artist on GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64 games console. After five years, he left and was one of the founding members and a director of Free Radical Design, which became one of the UK’s leading independent videogame developers. Over the next 9 years he helped to create the very successful and popular TimeSplitters series of games and the critically acclaimed Second Sight. In 2009 Karl graduated as an Executive MBA from Nottingham University Business School. Karl continues to be an advocate for the UK videogames industry, sitting on several university advisory boards and also served on the TIGA board for 3 years.
Sumo Digital is expanding its UK and wholly owned India studios, recruiting across all disciplines, visit www.sumo-digital.com for information.
NorthEdge Capital LLP recently backed Sumo Digital’s management team to complete an MBO from Foundation 9 Entertainment.
Media Contact: Alison Beasley, Lincoln Beasley PR.
E: Alison@lincolnbeasley.co.uk M: + 44(0) 7966 449 130
About Sumo Digital
Based in Sheffield & Nottingham, UK and Pune, India Sumo Digital employs 280 staff developing successful games across all platforms and genres. Recognised for its versatility, proprietary technology, creativity and high Metacritic, Sumo Digital’s portfolio of games includes Little Big Planet 3, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, Forza Horizon 2 – Fast & Furious and Disney Infinity. The studio is also developing Crackdown 3 in collaboration with Reagent and Microsoft.
The sensitive, creative, and intelligent use of licensed IP has become one of Sumo’s core competencies. At the 2013 Tiga Game Awards, Sumo won Best Arcade Game (Large Studio) Outstanding Leadership Award. In 2015 Sumo won a prestigious DICE award in 2015 for ‘Best Family Game’ and 3 gongs at the TIGA awards for ‘Best Social Game’ (Little Big Planet 3), UK Heritage Award and Outstanding Individual Award for CEO Carl Cavers. For more information visit:: Sumo