Sumo collaborates with Arm to evaluate mobile gaming performance on new AI-enabled chips

Sumo Digital, a UK-based gaming company, has joined forces with Arm, a chip technology company, to test Arm's emerging neural technology in practical development settings.

The initiative will explore how this technology can deliver "PC-quality graphics on mobile devices," utilizing "AI-powered neural accelerators" on Arm's GPUs, according to the chip company. Gary Dunn, the CEO of Sumo Digital, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Arm on showcasing this innovative technology's potential in video gaming on mobile platforms. Sumo Digital plans to provide demonstrations of their cooperative efforts at the upcoming GDC.

Chris Bergey, the Executive Vice President of Arm's Edge AI Business unit, remarked on the significance of achieving desktop-level visual quality on mobile devices, a long-standing industry goal. He stated that Arm's neural technology promises transformative, immersive gaming experiences for mobile users, and their collaboration with Sumo Digital is pivotal for enabling developers to enhance mobile visual quality.

Recent developments have kept Arm in the spotlight. Following an attempted acquisition by Nvidia, which ended unsuccessfully, Arm proceeded with a public offering in 2023. This resulted in job losses for up to 960 employees as the deal with SoftBank unraveled.

Sumo Digital has also undergone numerous changes. It was acquired by Tencent, a Chinese tech and entertainment conglomerate, in 2021. Recently, Sumo Digital divested several subsidiaries, such as The Chinese Room, Secret Mode, Auroch Digital, and the Polish branch of PixelAnt. Moreover, the company's founders have left, with Dunn and Andy Stewart stepping in as co-CEOs. The firm has outlined another wave of job cuts as part of its transformation strategy.

This strategic shift appears to redirect the company's focus from developing new original intellectual properties to enhancing its services for development partners. Despite this shift, Dunn highlighted that the firm still creates new IPs, noting current projects like "Nutmeg!" and "Tabitha" for Secret Mode, as well as other extensive projects for various clients. Sumo remains committed to developing complete games under its umbrella.