Emona Capital LLP has partnered with leadership in the buyout of video game publisher Secret Mode.
Founded as part of Sheffield-based Sumo Group in 2020, Secret Mode’s portfolio of titles features numerous critical, commercial, and award-winning hits across multiple genres, including Still Wakes the Deep, A Little to the Left, Wobbledogs, and Eternal Threads.
Emona Capital, a financial investor with deep expertise in the gaming industry, has a portfolio that includes world-renowned PC and console studios such as Relic Entertainment and Amber Studio. Secret Mode marks its first investment in game publishing.
In partnership with Emona Capital, Secret Mode will operate as an independent publisher, focused on supporting indie PC and console games. Secret Mode’s current leadership, Ed Blincoe and James Schall, has the full backing of Emona and will remain at the helm, leading the company as it enters its next phase.
Ed Blincoe at Leamington Spa-based Secret Mode said: “Secret Mode is deeply passionate about the creativity and innovation within the indie space, and so we are thrilled to be partnering with Emona Capital and to fully focus on the independent publishing scene.
“I also want to express our gratitude to Sumo not only for believing in Secret Mode’s original vision and overseeing our startup years, but for granting us this opportunity to become a fully independent entity.”
James Schall at Secret Mode said: “By becoming independent, we can now put all our efforts into uncovering the indie gems that gamers never knew they needed in their lives.
“We are committed to bringing our players the very best indie titles; not just of the future, but also by helping them discover existing indie masterpieces that have undeservedly flown under the radar in years gone by.
“We are working hard to empower independent developers across the globe, and hope to make some exciting announcements on this front in the coming months.”
Dominik Dolenec, Managing Partner at Emona Capital, said: “Secret Mode has made great waves in its formative years as a publisher of independent games. We look forward to supporting Secret Mode’s mission within the independent games sector across PC and consoles.”
Michael Moriarty, Partner at Emona Capital, said: “We are excited to build upon our commitment in the gaming ecosystem by investing in Secret Mode. This partnership strengthens our portfolio and adds skills and experience that complement our existing studios.”
