Sporty Group Opens New UK Games Studio Led by Industry Veteran Jon Hare

Sporty Group has established a new games development studio in the United Kingdom with former Tower Studios CEO Jon Hare taking the lead.

The new studio starts with 17 team members who have been working on the Sociable Soccer franchise, which Sporty Group acquired in July 2024.

The team is currently focused on developing an unannounced free-to-play soccer game scheduled for release later this year.

Based in Bournemouth, the studio represents Sporty Group's growing investment in the gaming industry following their acquisition of Tower Studios in April 2024.

"Working alongside Sporty Group to launch this new studio is a thrilling move that secures our future as a top-tier developer and publisher of sports games with truly global appeal," said Hare, who now serves as International Studio Director for Sporty. He added that they continue to look for new additions to their "capable and driven team." (Thanks GI.biz)

Hare brings significant experience to the role, having designed 11 games throughout his career spanning over 35 years. According to the report, he was recently recognized as 'Most Influential Person in Games' by Debug Magazine in February 2025.

The Sociable Soccer franchise, created by Hare, has been gaining recognition in the industry. Sociable Soccer 25 was recently nominated for Best UK Indie Game 2025 by Debug Magazine.

The new development studio fits into Sporty Group's broader entertainment strategy. The company operates several platforms including SportyBet, described as one of the world's most visited betting and gaming sites, as well as Sporty.com and SportyTV, which offers premium sports content in Africa with exclusive rights to major soccer leagues.

Sporty Group has built a significant presence with more than 1,000 team members serving millions of daily users worldwide. In January 2025, the company expanded further by launching SportyFM, described as Ghana's first 24-hour sports radio station.