Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen has announced his departure from the studio after 31 years, bringing an end to a three-decade career at the Finnish developer. Kuittinen said August 31 marks his final day at Housemarque following a planned leadership transition.
Kuittinen co-founded Housemarque with Harri Tikkanen in 1995 after starting his career in game development in 1993 with Terramarque. He said the studio remained independent for 26 years before becoming part of PlayStation Studios.
During his tenure, Housemarque evolved from an independent developer known for arcade-style games into a major AAA studio. Its work included titles such as Supreme Snowboarding, Super Stardust HD and Resogun before the studio achieved wider success with Returnal and its latest release, Saros.
“My core purpose as a leader has always been simple: to facilitate an environment where extraordinary creators have the freedom and protection to do what they do best,” Kuittinen said.
He also credited the wider games industry for helping shape his career, thanking friends, founders, mentors and industry colleagues for their support throughout the past three decades.
Housemarque Leadership Transition Already Underway
Kuittinen’s departure follows a leadership transition that has been planned internally. Sami “Haxu” Hakala officially became Housemarque’s managing director on July 1, with Kuittinen continuing to support Hakala and the leadership team through the end of August.
Kuittinen said the transition was designed to ensure operational continuity and stability, adding that Housemarque’s strategy and creative direction are in good hands.
Housemarque was founded in Helsinki in 1995 through the merger of Kuittinen and Tikkanen’s respective Amiga development studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. The studio subsequently became known for fast-paced arcade titles before making the transition to larger-scale productions.
The developer’s success with Returnal ultimately led to Sony Interactive Entertainment acquiring Housemarque in 2021, bringing the studio into the PlayStation Studios family.
Kuittinen Plans To Take A Break
After 33 continuous years in the games industry, Kuittinen plans to take a break beginning in September. He said he intends to spend some time learning to simply be without constantly pursuing another professional milestone.
His departure from Housemarque will not mark a complete exit from the industry. Kuittinen said he plans to remain connected to games through trade shows and award events, while potentially taking on mentoring or consulting work further down the line.
“However, you certainly haven’t seen the last of me,” Kuittinen said. “I look forward to staying connected with the industry, attending trade shows, cheering from the crowd at award shows, and down the road, doing some mentoring or consulting.”
