The mind behind one of the most demanding and atmospheric games of the last decade is building something new. Harry Krueger, game director of Returnal and a veteran of nearly 15 years at Housemarque, has officially launched Cosmic Division, an independent studio based in Finland.
From Housemarque to something new
Krueger departed Housemarque back in November 2023, roughly two and a half years after Returnal launched to wide acclaim on PS5. The timing of this announcement is notable: Housemarque just released Saros, meaning the Finnish studio is very much in the conversation right now. Cosmic Division steps into that same cultural moment.
The new studio describes itself as a "compact team" operating with a "lean-and-mean" philosophy. No headcount has been disclosed, but the language signals a deliberate move away from the bloated production pipelines that have sunk several mid-sized studios in recent years.
Krueger spent almost 15 years at Housemarque before departing in November 2023. Cosmic Division is his first studio as founder.
What Cosmic Division is actually building
Here's the thing: details on the first project are slim. What Cosmic Division has confirmed is that it will be a new single-player IP targeting both consoles and PC. The studio describes it as "an unapologetically gameplay-first experience" with "a story with strong emotional resonance" that "celebrates the studio's heritage."
That framing maps almost directly onto what made Returnal and Saros compelling: tight, demanding gameplay loops layered over atmospheric sci-fi storytelling. If Krueger is leaning into that formula with fresh themes and new talent, the pedigree alone makes this worth watching.
"We're proud of what we've achieved, but we're not standing still," Krueger said in the announcement statement. "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."
The key here is that phrase: "trust the player." Returnal never held your hand, and it sounds like Cosmic Division has no intention of changing that approach.
Returnal set Krueger's template
Finland keeps producing this kind of studio
Finnish game development has a quiet but consistent track record for this exact type of output. Housemarque itself started small before building toward Returnal over decades. Remedy Entertainment, also Helsinki-based, has made a career out of atmospheric single-player experiences with strong authorial voices. Cosmic Division fits neatly into that tradition.
The studio's focus on "mystery, mood, and immersion" alongside "intoxicating gameplay loops" and "audiovisual spectacle" reads less like marketing copy and more like a direct continuation of what Krueger spent his career at Housemarque refining. A full game announcement will "follow at a later date," according to the press release.
For players who want to get familiar with the DNA Cosmic Division is drawing from, our game reviews cover both Returnal and Saros in depth. And if you're looking to sharpen your skills ahead of whatever comes next from this studio, the gaming guides hub has you covered on both titles.
Cosmic Division's first game has no release window yet, but the studio is active and the announcement confirms development is already underway. Keep an eye on cosmicdivision.com for updates as they come.
