"The goal isn't to build something that burns brightly for a few years and disappears" – Cosmic Division CEO on launching a "responsibly ambitious" studio

Harry Krueger, former Housemarque game director and CEO of newly launched Helsinki indie studio Cosmic Division, shares the philosophy behind building a long-lasting studio. Co-founded with design director Henri Mustonen and COO Mika Laaja, the studio prioritizes sustainable growth over aggressive scaling. Krueger draws on lessons from AAA development — including the dangers of over-ambition, excessive scale, and late-stage scope cuts — to advocate for a 'responsibly ambitious' approach: lean teams, deliberate hiring, subtractive design, and long-term thinking over short-term glory.