PlayStation Acquires Returnal Dev Housemarque

The PlayStation Studios stable has expanded once again.

On June 29, PlayStation announced that it has acquired former independent studio Housemarque and will be adding them to its stable of studios. 

Housemarque is a Finnish studio that has an impressive pedigree, including Resogun, Nex Machina, and this year's PS5-exclusive Returnal. Housemarque and PlayStation have worked together in the past on titles like Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation, so this partnership isn't all that shocking. The partnership started during the PS3 generation with Super Stardust, and Housemarque has been putting their arcade titles on PlayStation systems since. 

© PlayStation
© PlayStation

"I have been a fan of Housemarque since the studio’s early days when they introduced Super Stardust HD to PlayStation fans. Housemarque’s recent release of Returnal proves the studio is one with incredible vision, capable of creating memorable new games that resonate with our community," said Head of PlayStation Studios, Herman Hulst. "This addition enhances the creative force of PlayStation Studios, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Housemarque."

It seems that Returnal really helped to solidify Housemarque's place in the industry. "With Returnal for PS5, our most recent release, our biggest foray into third-person action gaming solidified our voice and brand in the industry as delivering unique and quality player experiences," said Housemarque co-founder and managing director Ilari Kuittinen. 

He further elaborated that this partnership will ensure a stable future for the studio. "This gives our studio a clear future and a stable opportunity to continue delivering on gameplay centric approaches, while still experimenting with new methods of narrative delivery and pushing the boundaries of this modern artform," Kuittinen said. "Locally here in Helsinki, this also means that we will officially expand the PlayStation family to a growing industry hub and secure the legacy of the oldest game studio in Finland."

Whatever the future holds for Housemarque now, PlayStation will be behind them. 

Contributor

Ty is a freelance writer who bounces around the web. They love indie games, Bayonetta, and monstrous women and can be found covering all of the above. They're also the EIC and resident thembo of Uppercut.

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