Full Breakdown
Ilari Kuittinen Leaves Housemarque After Three Decades
8/31/2026, 8:21:18 PM
Departure Announcement
Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of the Finnish studio Housemarque, announced that today is his final day with the company. In a farewell letter to fans, he reflected on a career that began in 1993 with Terramarque, continued with the 1995 founding of Housemarque alongside Harri Tikkanen, and spanned 31 years at the PlayStation studio.
Housemarque’s Three-Decade Journey
From its early focus on arcade-style shooters, Housemarque expanded its portfolio across the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 eras. Notable milestones include the launch-title Resogun for PS4 in 2013, twin-stick shooters Alienation (2016) and Nex Machina (2017), and the story-driven roguelike Returnal released for PS5 in April 2021. The studio remained independent for 26 years before Sony incorporated it into the PlayStation Studios family later in 2021, after which it released the follow-up title Saros in April of the same year. Kuittinen highlighted these achievements as evidence of the studio’s evolution from a niche shooter developer to a AAA-capable creator.
Leadership Hand-over to Sami “Haxu” Hakala
Kuittinen clarified that the transition had been carefully orchestrated behind the scenes. Veteran developer Sami “Haxu” Hakala assumed the role of managing director on July 1, 2026, ensuring continuity of Housemarque’s strategic and creative direction.
Outlook for the Studio
The announcement underscores a planned succession that aims to preserve Housemarque’s distinctive blend of bullet-hell mechanics and fluid action. Industry observers note that the studio’s recent titles demonstrate an ability to merge classic arcade sensibilities with narrative ambition, suggesting that the new leadership may continue to explore ambitious projects while maintaining the core gameplay focus that defined its legacy.
