Exient looks to expand UK and Malta studios 

UK developer Exient has revealed it is growing its headcount to fulfil a new remit to “become the go-to mobile games publisher for ‘forever franchises’”.

With studios in both Leamington Spa and Malta, Exient is headed by Dave Hawkins and provides work-for-hire services as well as developing and self-publishing its own titles. For 2020, the company is reportedly “taking its expertise with working on market-leading IP – including FIFA, Angry Birds, F1 and more – to further build its self-publishing business” and it “has an eye on classic games licences to uniquely position itself to appeal to heritage gamers – with several titles lined up for the coming year”.

Consequently, Exient has refreshed its branding and is now looking to expand its headcount across both its Leamington and Malta offices “to fit this new business strategy, complete with new branding that communicates its mission to create welcoming, humble, focused, mass market, fun and playful games”.

“As the original PlayStation celebrates its 25th anniversary, we know that there are gamers who grew up with certain game franchises, who are huge fans of those experiences,” said Exient CEO Dave Hawkins. “Like the rest of us, they are older now – and we know that they are time poor and will most likely be attracted to mobile gaming experiences for that reason.

“The success of Lemmings has borne this out, so as we move into 2020 we are consolidating our skillsets across the UK and Malta, with Exient now uniquely placed to go out and secure amazing IPs and to create games for gamers of all ages to enjoy.”

Fellow Leamington Spa studio Sumo Digital only moved into its new Leamington office this year, but already the studio is moving onto bigger premises. 

Sumo announced it was opening a new studio in Leamington Spa, UK, in February 2019, confirming the new outfit would focus on the development of games for mobile devices. Now, however, the company has moved from its initial office space in Leamington to Bishops House in Homer Close at Tachbrook Park.