Summary
- Harry Krueger, the game director of Returnal, has announced his departure from Housemarque after 14 years of working with the company.
- Krueger played a significant role in the development of Returnal, which was the studio's biggest project to date.
- Housemarque will be creating a new IP for its next game instead of working on a sequel to Returnal. Information about the new game is currently limited.
Harry Krueger, who worked as the game director of Returnal, has confirmed his departure from Housemarque after working there for over 14 years. Krueger was a prominent figure in the company before leaving, as he was a key member of the studio’s biggest project so far, the third-person shooter Returnal.
Housemarque is a Finnish game developer owned by PlayStation Studios since 2021. The company got its start back in 1995 and is the oldest studio in the country. Krueger has been working there since 2009. He started as a gameplay programmer and became a game director in 2014, a position he held until now. During this time, the company launched games like Dead Nation, Outland, Resogun, Alienation, Nex Machina, Matterfall, and Returnal.
Now, Housemarque revealed that Harry Krueger will leave his position as game director at the Finnish studio. When talking about his retirement from the company, Krueger stated that it was a very difficult decision to make, and said that “During my 14 years at Housemarque, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on one dream project after another, and had the privilege of working alongside some truly talented and wonderful people along the way.” Krueger also reflected on his work in the studio, talking about how Housemarque shifted from a small Indie studio that launched titles like Resogun and Nex Machina to the big Returnal, a project that was rewarded with multiple awards and was the first AAA experience he worked on.
During my 14 years at Housemarque, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on one dream project after another, and had the privilege of working alongside some truly talented and wonderful people along the way.
Ilari Kuittinen, the general manager and co-founder of Housemarque, also talked about Krueger’s work. He praised the employee’s leadership and dedication and credited the game director for sculpting the company’s success, especially during the development of the critically successful Returnal, which is the company’s biggest hit. At the moment, it’s not clear if Krueger will continue to work in the game industry, or, if he does, to which studio he will go.
As Harry Krueger leaves Housemarque, the PlayStation-owned studio continues the development of its yet-unnamed upcoming game. Instead of working on a sequel to Returnal, Housemarque will create a new IP for its next game. At the moment, however, not much information is known about the title. The game will employ unused ideas and narrative systems that did not appear in Returnal, according to the developers, but essentially nothing is known about its setting. While Krueger will no longer be a part of the company soon, he may have done some work on the upcoming game, which would make it the last one influenced by his decisions in Housemarque.
Returnal
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
- Released
- April 30, 2021
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Housemarque
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
- 1-2
WHERE TO PLAY
Break the cycle of chaos on an always-changing alien planet.
After crash-landing on this shape-shifting world, Selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her escape. Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she’s defeated – forced to restart her journey every time she dies.
Through relentless roguelike gameplay, you’ll discover that just as the planet changes with every cycle, so do the items at your disposal. Every loop offers new combinations, forcing you to push your boundaries and approach combat with a different strategy each time.
Brought to life by stunning visual effects, the dark beauty of the decaying world around you is packed with explosive surprises. From high stakes, bullet hell-fueled combat, to visceral twists and turns through stark and contrasting environments. You’ll explore, discover and fight your way through an unforgiving journey, where mystery stalks your every move.
Designed for extreme replayability, the procedural world of Returnal invites you to dust yourself off in the face of defeat and take on new, evolving challenges with every rebirth.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
