Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen is retiring after 33 years in games. At the same time, Housemarque says longtime studio member Sami “Haxu” Hakala will take over as managing director on July 1, 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition.
Kuittinen started the Finnish studio Housemarque with Harri Tikkanen in 1995. Over the years, he helped steer it from a small arcade-action developer into a PlayStation Studios team with a global profile. You can trace that climb through Returnal, the recent Saros reveal, and Sony’s acquisition in June 2021, which came after Returnal helped push Housemarque into AAA development.
In his farewell message, Kuittinen thanked Housemarque, PlayStation, and the wider gaming community. He said he plans to take a break, though he left the door open to coming back later as a mentor or consultant. He also said Housemarque’s strategy and vision are in strong hands, though people will still wonder what happens to the studio’s identity once one of its co-founders steps away.
Sony and Housemarque say the handover is meant to keep future projects on track and give the studio continuity. The change also lands not long after other major PlayStation founder departures, including Insomniac Games founder Ted Price and Sucker Punch Productions co-founder Brian Fleming in 2025.
For anyone who follows PlayStation Studios closely, this is a significant change. Housemarque is saying goodbye to one of the people who shaped the studio, even as its goals keep getting bigger.
Returnal is available on PS5 now. Saros is Housemarque’s next announced PlayStation project.
Author: Gerard Patrick Cadiang
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