Remedy CEO Tero Virtala has stepped down with immediate effect.
Virtala led the studio for almost a decade—having been appointed in August 2016—but has now mutually agreed to vacate the position after discussions with Remedy’s board of directors.
As detailed in a note to investors, Remedy co-founder Markus Mäki has been named interim CEO. Virtala will remain at the service of the company while the search for a permanent successor takes place.
Mäki, who had been serving as chairman of the board, has been replaced by veteran board member Henri Österlund. He will continue to serve as an ordinary member of the board.
The news comes with FBC: Firebreak—the Finnish studio’s first self-published title—struggling to make an impact just months after launching on PC and consoles.
Despite reaching 1 million players within 10 days of its June 17 launch, Remedy said the title hadn’t made significant inroads on Steam. It had hoped Valve’s marketplace would become the “primary consumer sales channel on PC.”
Early interest was also driven by FBC: Firebreak’s availability on console subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, but player counts soon dwindled.
Remedy currently ‘revising’ development plans for FBC: Firebreak
Commenting on the situation in August, Virtala acknowledged those teething pains but said Remedy intended to continue improving and supporting the title.
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“We believe we have a solid game to build on. Players who spent over an hour with the game reviewed the game mostly positive—showing us that the core experience of the game is entertaining,” he added.
Earlier this month, however, Remedy issued a profit warning and confirmed the cooperative shooter is still underperforming. As a result, the company lowered its long-term sales forecast for the title and recognized a non-cash impairment of €14.9 million ($17.2 million).
Virtala said Remedy will “balance future investments” in FBC: Firebreak to continue expanding the experience in line with its updated sales forecast.”
In a comment sent to Game Developer in the wake of that profit warning, Remedy communications director Thomas Puha said the studio is “revising some of its development plans” but remains committed to releasing the next major update for FBC: Firebreak.
That update is scheduled for late November and will usher in an ‘Endless Shift’ roguelike mode. Puha said the company will then flesh out its plans and timings for 2026.