Secret Mode, the UK writer of video games like Still Wakes the Deep and A Little to the Left, has bought its independence from Sumo Group, which, in flip, is a subsidiary of Tencent. Secret Mode’s present management staff, together with co-founder James Schall and VP of publishing, Ed Blincoe, partnered with funding agency Emona Capital to get the deal executed.
Founded in 2020, Secret Mode’s funding portfolio consists of another compelling indies, together with Dear Esther, Parcel Corps, and Eternal Threads (thanks, VGC). Schall and Blincoe will proceed to steer the firm: “By becoming independent, we can now put all our efforts into uncovering the indie gems that gamers never knew they needed in their lives”, stated Schall.
Sumo Group was wholly acquired by Tencent in 2022 and, like many others, was hit by a big round of layoffs in 2024. The financial sum Secret Mode paid for its independence was not disclosed.
