Overview
- Ilari Kuittinen left Housemarque on Monday after 31 years at the studio and 33 years in the games industry, posting a public farewell that framed the move as a planned exit.
- Sami “Haxu” Hakala, a long‑time Housemarque producer, officially became managing director on July 1 and has assumed day‑to‑day leadership following Kuittinen’s support through August.
- Kuittinen said he will take a break starting in September and expects to stay connected to the industry through trade shows, award events, and future mentoring or consulting roles.
- Kuittinen’s statement highlighted his role in building Housemarque from its Terramarque roots, steering the studio through arcade hits and its later AAA work including Returnal and Saros, and keeping the studio independent until joining PlayStation Studios.
- The transition was staged to protect Housemarque’s creative independence and culture, with the studio likely to be shaped by Hakala’s operational leadership and Kuittinen’s future mentorship.