Midoki

Midoki is a game development studio focused on creating free-to-play, socially connected mobile games. Founded in late 2011 by a team of veteran game developers including Jonathan Webb, Daniel Martinez-Normand, and Chris Gage, the company is based in Leamington Spa, UK. The founders and team draw on extensive experience from key roles on numerous AAA titles such as Donkey Kong, Motorstorm, and SEGA Rally.

The company develops original intellectual property and is known for its games-as-a-service model. Its portfolio includes the strategy management game "Plunder Pirates" and the fantasy RPG "Knighthood," the latter of which has surpassed five million downloads. Midoki has also collaborated with other studios, such as assisting SEGA Hardlight with the development of "Crazy Taxi City Rush". The studio's business model primarily relies on in-app purchases for revenue, with its flagship title "Knighthood" generating approximately $0.5 million monthly for a period. The company received an undisclosed amount in a Seed funding round in June 2021 from Phoenix Games, which also took over publishing rights for "Knighthood" from King.

In September 2023, Midoki was acquired by Sumo Group, a subsidiary of Tencent, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was intended to bolster Sumo Group's capabilities in live service and mobile gaming. Midoki continues to operate as a standalone studio within the Sumo Digital family, focusing on creating new original IP.

Keywords: mobile games, game development, free-to-play, games-as-a-service, RPG, strategy games, social games, in-app purchases, original IP, Plunder Pirates, Knighthood, Sumo Group, Tencent, Leamington Spa, Jonathan Webb, veteran developers, mobile entertainment, live service games, fantasy RPG, strategy management