Developer Housemarque, the makers of the excellent Returnal, is set to move into a very swanky-sounding new studio by the end of next year.
The team is Finland's longest-standing game developer, founded in 1995 and operating out of Helsinki ever since. In a new blog post on its website, Housemarque says it's looking to relocate to and establish — still within the Finnish capital — "the Nordics' most advanced gaming headquarters". The aim is for the studio to be both a "testament to our rich gaming legacy" and a "beacon of innovation and creativity in the Northernmost capital".
Calling it more than just a "shiny new office", brand director Mikael Haveri describes the studio's vision for a modern, and expensive-sounding, workspace. "With features like cutting-edge meeting rooms, proper audio studios, testing areas, and wellness spaces, we are creating an environment that merges Nordic sensibilities with creativity, aiming to attract the world's best game developers," the post reads.
As well as all that, Housemarque wants the new studio to be eco-friendly too. "Our revamped hub will champion green initiatives, ensuring a balance between technology and planetary care," it says. "As we embark on this transformative journey, we're committed to further solidifying our position in the world of gameplay innovation."
It all sounds fantastic, but we'll have to wait until 2024 before we get to actually see it.
It's not the only PS Studios team to get a work environment glow-up. Media Molecule's Guildford office has just received a total refurbishment, and Firesprite moved into a super-modern studio, much like the one described in Housemarque's blog. Going back slightly further, Guerrilla Games moved to a similarly swanky studio in 2021. It appears Sony is investing a lot into the work environments of its teams to ensure they're in the best possible conditions.
As for Housemarque, it currently has a few job openings, and may look to grow more if its new home is much larger. We'll find out more next year, but it seems like things are on the up at the Finnish studio.
[source housemarque.com]
Comments 25
Sony has been investing a LOT in their studios over the last decade, setting them all up for a bright future. It’s tough in the industry right now but they are making PlayStation Studios a place where top talent will want to come and work. Smart business
@QuietintheCorner
"Returnal 2" hopefully !
I absolutely loved living in Finland, if I was working in the industry I would definitely chase one of those open jobs.
Good stuff, look after the staff first, the rest will follow 👍
Love their games.They deserve it.
Spending all that Sony money! Don't blame them...great developer, up there with Insomniac for their skill and post release support.
Guerrilla games, Sucker Punch and Santa Monica Studio have also moved to new buildings in the last decade. That can’t leave too many PS studios that aren’t in new facilities.
Returnal is such a wonderful game, the mechanics in it are quite brilliant and the gameplay itself is fantastic.
A hard but fair game, once you embrace it's roguelike nature and accept that 'dying' is actually part of the game progression you realise it really is one of the best shooters out there (IMHO).
Hollowseeker and Electropylon launcher for the win, things get alot easier once you get the Atropian Blade too.
Wow looking forward to the Returnal live service multiplayer
Would be awesome if they had a 2nd smaller team to work on arcade like games like resogun
Hopefully it's too use the talent to make something awesome like their past efforts and not some Jim Ryan live crap
@PegasusActual93
Have you seen how broken their games are?
While Returnal wasn't my cup of tea overall, I LOVED the aesthetic, boss fights, and creepy ambiance it went for. I think it's easily the most unique PlayStation exclusive this generation. I'm looking forward to seeing what Housemarque does next, especially with this cool-sounding new studio in their arsenal.
Returnal was cool, but I would give anything for a Resogun 2.
They put in purgatory the ND multiplayer and give a new home to the makers of the most interesting new IP PS has. Less than a week since they announce Ryan retirement and things are already a little better LOL.
Wondering what their next new game will be, hopefully a full on triple AAA experience this time. Didn't give Returnal a try because I don't like roguelikes at all. The whole idea of roguelikes in general massively triggers my anxiety in a bad way, so naturally avoid. A non roguelike brand new IP would be nice
what about celebrating this with vr mode for returnal ? that would be something !
@aj21009 I really liked resogun a lot, but I would not put it over returnal.
Hopefully they don't become one of those developers spending too much on a fancy studio.
@ChrisDeku I remember Santa Monica and Guerrila Games moving to a bigger facility, but Sucker Punch is brand new news to me. That's nice to hear. Now it's Housemarque turn. The fourth studio with more support.
would love to see them either work on a full fledged game bigger then their last one, or take over a franchise like resistance or something like that.
Hopefully Dead Nation 2?
Would love to see what they could do with a full fat AAA budget. Returnal was excellent and showed they could do more with less, imagine what they could do with more?
I'd be glad if it's not Returnal 2 cause I really want to see what other wild new idea they'll cook up soon. I just know it's gonna be hard as nails and I'm so down for it.
Can’t wait to see where they go from Returnal.
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