Ilari Kuittinen, Co-founder Of Housemarque, Is Leaving After 31 Years

From their LinkedIn Page:

End of an Era: 31 Years at Housemarque and 33 Years in Gaming
After 33 years in the games industry and 31 incredible years at Housemarque—the studio I co-founded with Harri Tikkanen—today marks my last day at the company.

Starting out in 1993 with Terramarque, and then joining forces with Harri to establish Housemarque in 1995, we had a passion for games but no real blueprint for building a business. Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We had the luck of being in the right place at the right time during three decades of incredible industry growth, allowing us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before finding a home within the PlayStation Studios family.

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.

Together, we’ve achieved things I couldn’t have imagined when we started:
* Pioneering Finnish game development on the global stage.
* Creating studio defining titles—from Supreme Snowboarding, Super Stardust HD, and Resogun to our breakthrough AAA success with Returnal and our latest release, Saros.
* Evolving into a premier AAA developer while maintaining our unique creative identity.

A Heartfelt Thank You to My Industry Family
Beyond the walls of Housemarque and PlayStation, this journey would have been impossible without the broader games community. To the many friends, fellow founders, mentors, and industry peers across the world who have offered invaluable advice, a listening ear, or steady support over the last three decades: thank you.

This industry is defined not just by the games we create, but by the remarkable, generous people who make up its global community. The wisdom, camaraderie, and encouragement you’ve shared with me personally throughout the years mean more than I can express.
Leadership Transition & What’s Next

We have been planning this leadership transition carefully behind the scenes. On July 1st, Sami ´Haxu’ Hakala officially stepped into the Managing Director role, and I have continued supporting him and the leadership team until today to ensure complete operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in exceptional hands.

As for me? After 33 continuous years without a major break, I am taking a rare and well-deserved breather trying to find out how good I am at doing nothing!

To Harri, our partners at SIE, our global industry friends, and every single team member who has ever walked through Housemarque’s doors: thank you for making the past 31 years the privilege of a lifetime.

Remember our guiding light: strive to be a better professional, and a better human being. Take care of each other, speak with courage, and keep pushing the boundaries of what games can be.

Here’s to the next decade! ????????