Still awake Deep Studio China Room Announces Management Acquisition, Get Independence from Sumo Digital

The Chinese Room is the well-received British independent studio behind last year's oil rig horror game Still awakehas now officially severed ties with its former parent company SUMO Digital.

The studio also developed the independent darling, Dear Esther, everyone went ecstasy and now has completed the management acquisition, a spokesperson for the China Room has confirmed that IGN has become IGN.

Today's news comes months after Brighton's studio, after announcement It will reorient its efforts “to develop services specifically for partners” rather than continue working on the original franchise.

In a message to the news today, China Room said it looks “increasingly likely” that the company will be sold by Sumo Digital, which may be a private equity firm or other overseas buyer — Sumo itself has been acquired by China's giant China Giant Tencent in 2018.

Instead, the Chinese Room will run as an independent entity led by studio director Ed Daly after an agreement reached by venture capital firm Hiro Capital (Hiro Capital).

“This kind of management buyout allows us to catch the creative itch of continuing to work on new original intellectual property, while also working with other studios as we adapt to our vision,” Daly said. “That’s what we’re doing and we want to continue to do so, so we’re happy to move on.”

After a break from Deep and last month’s DLC Pack Siren, the Chinese room now has two new IPSs, which was revealed today.

However, next is the long-captured Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodline 2, which will be released in October this year.

“The Chinese Room is a huge British success story, and it is considered a unique creativity that can compete on the world stage,” said Spike Laurie, partner at Hiro Capital. “From hiring British people to making games in the UK, they have been one of our most important creative studios, and now they are once again responsible for their destiny while leaving the British behind.

“We have the risk of ignoring these creative gemstones and having them sold to overseas companies,” Laurie continued. “It's a mean person for the $5.5 billion UK gaming industry. We need to develop that talent and support it in tough times because it's one of our leading creative exports.”

Tom Phillips is the news editor for IGN. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on the Blues @tomphillipseg.bsky.social