Secret Mode insources LiveOps in Sheffield to cut external dev spend
Summary
Secret Mode is opening a Sheffield internal studio to replace external dev spend on Escape the Backrooms and Chained Together
Launches with 3 staff, targets ~20 headcount within 12 months
"We're spending large sums of money on external development teams"
Signals indie publishers now treat post-launch LiveOps capability as core infrastructure, not outsourced overhead
01
Cost pressure drives the Secret Mode Limited insourcing decision
Sheffield studio exists to eliminate contractor spend on live-service content pipelines
Initial mandate: new levels, cosmetic systems, and platform ports - all recurring post-launch workloads
Chained Together is Steam-only today; Xbox, PS5, and Switch 2 ports are active targets
"We asked why we weren't building our own team to support our own portfolio of products"
02
Two live titles anchor the business case, portfolio expansion gated on proof
Escape the Backrooms and Chained Together cited as "doing really great numbers" with communities demanding more content
Launch KPI is explicit: keeping retention high while onboarding new players
"Once we prove it out, we'll look at further titles, and hopefully our portfolio will expand"
03
Sheffield pick weaponises university pipeline against AAA talent churn
Chosen for talent density and ties to Sheffield, Nottingham, and Sheffield Hallam universities
Technical Development Director Jake Habgood previously ran Sheffield Hallam's Steel Minions studio and led Sumo Digital education partnerships
Pitch to hires: ship content instantly rather than burn years on AAA projects that may never launch
"You can spend a huge amount of your career working on something that just never sees the light of day"
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