Sumo enjoys high demand for video games during lockdown

The Sheffield-based group said the lockdown restrictions, resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, are having a positive impact on its underlying market, with video gaming activity and console purchases accelerating faster than previously forecast.

Games developers have benefitted from people having to stay at home during the lockdown with little to do other than watch TV or play video games. The video games market is forecast to grow by 9 per cent over the next three years.

Sumo told shareholders at its virtual AGM that it has performed well over the past two months and the group is trading comfortably in line with market expectations.

Its most recent game launch was on June 12 when Little Orpheus, the brand new adventure from its award-winning studio The Chinese Room, was made available exclusively on Apple Arcade.

Little Orpheus is an account of what happened to Soviet cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich during his three years below the Earth’s crust and Sumo said it has received very positive feedback.

This follows the success of Spyder on Apple Arcade which has achieved consistently high user feedback ratings since itslaunch on March 20.

Sumo said it is generating a strong pipeline of new business development opportunities across both client and own-IP, despite the severe restrictions on travel and face to face contact.

The firm said its teams are working very effectively and safely from home, with only minor disruption and with similar productivity to when they worked in its offices.

Sumo said it views the future with confidence, despite the backdrop of Covid-19, and remains optimistic about the prospects for the business in the current financial year and beyond.