Ilari Kuittinen Exits Saros Developer After 31 Years
After three decades of shaping the landscape of gaming, a monumental chapter is closing at Housemarque. Co-founder Ilari Kuittinen has announced his departure from the PlayStation studio, marking the end of an incredible 31-year journey.
In a heartfelt message shared with his followers, Kuittinen confirmed today as his final day with the team. His farewell was more than just a goodbye; it was a reflective look back at a legacy built on passion, innovation, and relentless evolution.
The story of Housemarque began in 1993 when Kuittinen started with Terramarque, a foundation that blossomed into a dynamic studio when he joined forces with Harri Tikkanen in 1995. From those early days, the team developed a deep-seated passion for games, driven by a vision that started simple but grew into something truly extraordinary.
Over the years, Housemarque didn’t just stay committed to gameplay; it continuously pushed creative boundaries. What started as an initial focus on arcade-y classics evolved dramatically, allowing the studio to branch far beyond simple shoot-em-ups throughout the life cycles of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles.
Fans remember the studio’s incredible run of titles that defined modern twin-stick action. From the launch of Resogun in 2013, to the advent of titles like Alienation and Nex Machina, Housemarque established itself as a master of high-speed, challenging gameplay.
The studio reached a new zenith with the release of the story-driven roguelike Returnal for PS5 in 2021, demonstrating their ability to blend their signature bullet-hell sensibilities with fluid, challenging action. This creative output cemented Housemarque‘s position, eventually leading Sony to officially cement the company as a PlayStation Studio.
Kuittinen highlighted three major achievements during this period: the evolution of the studio into a AAA developer, the success of its diverse game portfolio, and its status as a pioneering Finnish game studio. He emphasized that this transition was carefully planned, noting that studio veteran Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala is expertly guiding the creative and strategic vision forward as managing director.
“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 stated. He expressed immense gratitude to the partners at SIE, his friends in the global industry, and every team member who made the last 31 years a privilege.
As for himself, Kuittinen is taking a well-deserved breather after 33 continuous years in the industry. He is now looking forward to finding out how good it is to do nothing, leaving behind a legacy defined by game-changing creativity and enduring passion.
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