Housemarque is the talk of the town again following Saros’ launch, and now another veteran from the Finnish studio, Returnal game director Harry Krueger, is aiming to deliver something that feels familiar with a new game studio.
Cosmic Division, also Finland-based, has just been announced. The independent developer will focus “on crafting ambitious, atmospheric, gameplay-first experiences with a strong sense of mystery, mood, and immersion”. The specific studio size hasn’t been shared, but the press release states it’s starting off as “a compact team” following a “lean-and-mean” philosophy.
Returnal – Official Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but we’re not standing still. At Cosmic Division, we’re building on our strengths while finding a new edge through fresh themes, ideas and talent. We believe there is always room for games built on timeless values that trust the player and leave a lasting impact,” Krueger – a veteran of almost 15 years at Housemarque – said in a statement. In 2023, it was announced he’d departed the Sony-owned studio.
Little is known about the developer’s first project at the time of writing, but Cosmic Division has confirmed it’ll be a new single-player IP that “celebrates the studio’s heritage” and targets both consoles and PC. “The game will deliver an unapologetically gameplay-first experience and a story with strong emotional resonance” – that sounds a lot like Returnal and Saros, if you ask me.
“We’re excited to push further into the experiences we love creating: intoxicating gameplay loops, audiovisual spectacle, and impactful stories that linger with players long after the credits have rolled,” Krueger concluded. An announcement of the game will “follow at a later date”.