LITTLEBIGPLANET SERIES

Sumo Digital has had the privilege of contributing to the beloved LittleBigPlanet franchise across multiple titles. Our involvement has spanned co-development, live operations support, and full game development, helping bring creative, family-friendly experiences to millions of players worldwide.

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The Ask

Following a number of years of collaboration supporting LittleBigPlanet 2, Sumo worked closely with Sony to create Sackboy: A Big Adventure, an original co-op platformer that showcased the power and potential of the PlayStation 5.
This ambitious project required us to reimagine the franchise for a new generation while maintaining its charm and accessibility. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, the game launched alongside the PS5 and went on to win two BAFTA awards.

Project Details

Platforms: PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | PC

Genre: Co-op Platformer

Partner: Sony External Development Studio Europe

Service: Live Ops & Co-Development (LittleBigPlanet 3) / Full-Development (Sackboy: A Big Adventure)

Engine: Unreal Engine 4

 

Our Involvement

Live Ops & Co-Development: LittleBigPlanet 3

  • Delivered 5+ years of live-environment support (2012–2017), including regular patches every 6–8 weeks.
  • Maintained stability and introduced new content, features, and gameplay systems.
  • Supported multi-console release (PS3 & PS4) with full backwards compatibility for user-generated content from previous titles.
  • Managed 10+ million user-generated levels and ensured seamless player account migrations.
  • Operated a custom server environment integrated with PlayStation Network and web APIs for second-screen experiences.

Full Game Development: Sackboy: A Big Adventure

  • Reimagined the franchise to focus on Play, creating an accessible, all-ages platformer.
  • Built entirely in Unreal Engine 4, pivoting mid-development to make PS5 the lead platform.
  • Overcame the challenge of remote development during COVID-19 lockdowns to deliver a PS5 launch title.
  • Achieved critical acclaim, earning two BAFTA awards for innovation and excellence.

Impact

Our collaboration with Sony on the LittleBigPlanet series demonstrates Sumo’s ability to deliver long-term live service support for complex, user-driven ecosystems. We executed full-scale development of award-winning titles under challenging conditions, and adapted to evolving technology and player expectations while maintaining the heart of a beloved franchise.
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Our Work
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