Secret Mode has established a new in-house development studio in Sheffield as part of a broader push to support games in its own portfolio. The new team will begin work on Escape the Backrooms and Chained Together, two titles the publisher acquired in June, with an emphasis on keeping their communities active and engaged.
The studio is starting with just three employees, but Secret Mode expects it to grow to around 20 people over the next year. According to VP of technology and operations Dan Secker, the move came after he joined the company in November 2025 and quickly saw an opportunity to reduce reliance on external development teams. He said the aim is to build dedicated pipelines that can update content more efficiently and help Secret Mode support its own releases directly.
For now, the Sheffield operation is focused on extending the life of the two existing games rather than creating new intellectual property. Planned work includes extra levels, cosmetic features and ports to additional platforms. Chained Together is currently only on Steam, and Secret Mode says it will look at options including Xbox, PS5 and possibly Switch 2. The publisher sees the model as a way to deliver work to players quickly, which it believes will appeal to developers who prefer shorter feedback loops over long AAA production cycles.
Secret Mode also expects the studio to strengthen its ties with Sheffield’s universities and local talent pool. Technical development director Jake Habgood, who has worked in both games and education, said the company wants a visible presence that can mentor new entrants to the industry. The publisher’s leadership described the Sheffield location as a natural fit, given the city’s talent base and its existing links to the wider Sumo Digital network. While Secret Mode is not currently planning to build original IP through the new studio, Secker said that could be considered later if the model proves successful.
Source: gamesindustry.biz
