Today, Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen announced his departure from the studio after 31 years, ending a 33-year career in the games industry that began with the founding of Terramarque in 1993 and continued with the establishment of Housemarque alongside Harri Tikkanen in 1995.
Kuittinen said his focus as a leader was to give developers the freedom and support to do their best work. Under his leadership, Housemarque expanded from an independent Finnish studio to a major AAA developer, joining PlayStation Studios after 26 years.
Housemarque released influential titles such as Supreme Snowboarding, Super Stardust HD, and Resogun before reaching AAA status with Returnal and Saros, both of which continued the studio’s focus on unique gameplay and creative direction.
Kuittinen thanked developers, founders, mentors, and industry peers for their support throughout his career, emphasizing the importance of the people behind the games and saying the relationships and experiences from the past three decades were invaluable.
The leadership transition began earlier this year, with Sami “Haxu” Hakala becoming Housemarque’s Managing Director on July 1, 2026. Kuittinen supported Hakala and the leadership team through August to ensure a smooth handover, stating that Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision remain strong.
Kuittinen will step back from daily operations starting in September and plans to take time off before considering his next steps. While he didn’t make it clear what those steps are, he will remain involved in the games industry through trade shows, award events, and possible mentoring or consulting roles.
Concluding his statement, the Housemarque co-founder thanked Harri Tikkanen, Sony Interactive Entertainment, industry partners, friends, and every team member who has contributed to the studio’s history. He also reiterated the guiding philosophy he hopes the team continues to follow: “strive to be a better professional, and a better human being,” before looking ahead to the next decade.
