Harry Krueger Leaves Housemarque After 14 Years: What’s Next for Sony Studio?

After 14 years of service, Housemarque has announced that Harry Krueger, known for his direction on Returnal and Nex Machina, is leaving the studio. Krueger expressed his gratitude for his time at Housemarque, stating that each project he worked on was a dream come true. His collaboration greatly contributed to the growth of the studio, which transitioned from arcade games to ambitious projects such as Returnal, a title that marked a turning point for Housemarque.

Krueger described his departure as a challenging decision but expressed excitement for the future of both the new projects and the strong team remaining at Housemarque. He expressed confidence in the studio’s bright future, supported by continued support from Sony, which absorbed him as an internal team in 2021.

Housemarque co-founder and CEO Ilari Kuittinen highlighted Krueger’s significant impact on the development of the studio. Under his leadership, Housemarque achieved several milestones, including revitalizing the arcade genre with Returnal’s success. Kuittinen views this moment as an ideal opportunity for new leadership to take over and continue building on the foundation created by Krueger. The studio is now preparing to launch its next major project: according to Kuittinnen, it is set to create “the next big hit” from Finland while carrying forward the legacy and innovations introduced during Krueger’s era.

Overall, Housemarque has been fortunate enough to have had someone like Harry Krueger leading its direction team for so long. His contributions have been invaluable in taking the studio from small beginnings to becoming one of Finland’s most successful game studios. With a strong foundation built by Krueger and support from Sony, Housemarque is poised for continued growth and success in the future.