Tero Virtala Resigns as Remedy CEO Following FBC Firebreak Setback

Remedy Entertainment, the studio best known for Alan Wake and Control, has announced that Tero Virtala has stepped down as CEO with immediate effect.

Virtala, who has led the Finnish studio since 2016, will remain with the company for an agreed transition period while the board begins the search for a permanent successor.

Tero Virtala steps down as Remedy CEO. Markus Mäki named interim leader while the studio adjusts plans after Firebreak’s poor sales.

Taking over in the meantime is Markus Mäki, Remedy’s co‑founder and current chief product officer. Mäki has been with the company since its early days, serving on the board of directors since 1995 and most recently acting as chairman. With his move into the interim CEO role, Henri Österlund will step in as the new chairman of the board. Österlund has been a board member since 2017, giving him plenty of familiarity with the studio’s direction.

In a statement to Gamesindustry.biz, Mäki thanked Virtala for his leadership over the past nine years, noting his “substantial contribution” to Remedy’s growth. “I personally thank Tero for good cooperation and wish him all the best for the future,” Mäki said.

The leadership change comes at a challenging time for Remedy. Just last week, the studio revised its financial outlook for 2025 after reporting weak sales of its first multiplayer title, FBC Firebreak. According to Remedy’s announcement, the game failed to meet internal targets, leading to a non‑cash impairment of €14.9 million tied to development costs and publishing rights.

Originally, Remedy had forecast both revenue and operating profit to rise compared to the previous year. Now, the company expects a decline in operating profit, underscoring the impact of Firebreak’s underperformance.