Remedy Entertainment leadership change is now official: Jean-Charles Gaudechon CEO will take the helm on March 1, 2026, following Tero Virtala departure. The studio is focusing on tighter commercial execution, studio scaling strategy, and a more sustainable publishing model. At the same time, the studio wants to keep its core identity as a premium, story-first developer.
Gaudechon brings EA executive background and experience from CCP Games, with full P&L responsibility and a track record in operational leadership. In the meantime, Markus Mäki interim CEO is leading the studio, ensuring continuity during the handover.
The leadership change comes after FBC: Firebreak, the studio’s multiplayer co-op shooter, underperformed and the company issued a profit warning, signaling a push for tighter commercial execution and disciplined growth while keeping the studio’s creative projects on track.
Who is Jean-Charles Gaudechon
Jean-Charles Gaudechon has 20 years in the gaming industry, including roles as a CCP Games executive and senior leadership positions at EA, with full P&L (Profit and Loss) responsibility. His experience includes:
- shipping games from concept to launch
- budgeting and financial planning
- portfolio prioritization and go-to-market strategies
- live operations management
He says he wants to “protect what makes Remedy special” while scaling the studio, which in practice means:
- maintaining Remedy’s story-first, premium identity
- strengthening commercial execution
- driving operational discipline and sustainable growth
Remedy’s Business Pressure Points
The recent Firebreak profit warning and impairment charge raised the stakes for management and investors, putting more focus on execution and project selection.
A profit warning signals the studio will earn less than expected, and an impairment shows some projects lost value. This means the studio must be more careful with investments.
Remedy will cut risky side projects and focus on the games most likely to succeed, keeping resources on its core, high-potential titles.
What “Scale” Means for Remedy
Remedy has said it wants to scale the studio, and this can mean three things in practice:
- Portfolio focus – fewer simultaneous projects, a clearer release cadence, stronger milestone discipline, and a more deliberate franchise strategy.
- Publishing evolution – self-publishing growth and investing in publishing infrastructure to improve margins and build direct player relationships.
- Operational maturity – improving production pipelines, QA, and launch readiness to reduce operating risk.
In short, scaling is about running the studio more efficiently while keeping its story-first identity intact.
What to Watch for Upcoming Games
With the leadership change in mind, here’s a closer look at what to watch in Remedy’s upcoming games and ongoing projects:
- Control 2 – updates on release timing and announcements, and how it fits into the broader Control franchise roadmap.
- Max Payne remakes – progress and launch plans.
- Ongoing support – post-launch updates and live operations.
A new CEO doesn’t automatically change creative direction. They mainly influence these key areas, keeping projects on track and well-supported, such as:
- scope
- timing
- marketing
- resources
Fan Trust and the ‘Forever Franchise’ Challenge
Founded by industry veterans including Henri Österlund, Remedy built its name on story-driven action games. Moving into multiplayer and live-service models introduces new risks that can divide fans. Balancing creative ambition with operational discipline is key to maintaining trust.
How to support Remedy’s next era (without buying everything day one):
- Wishlist games on your preferred platform.
- Try demos when available.
- Share feedback and report bugs.
- Join official channels for news and updates.
Remedy in 60 Seconds
Remedy is a Finnish studio known for premium single-player, story-driven action games and proprietary tech. The studio has earned a reputation for high-quality narratives, standing out in a market dominated by sequels and live-service titles, thanks to:
- premium storytelling that attracts fans and critical acclaim
- proprietary technology (Northlight engine) that powers the studio’s cinematic visuals and gameplay systems
- global reach despite being a midsize studio
The CEO change reflects a broader trend: studios now balance prestige and profitability. Since 2024, operational leadership has become headline news, as studios focus on:
- growth and scaling without compromising creative vision
- release discipline and predictable launch performance
- live-service and ongoing support strategies
Conclusion
The new CEO is here to improve execution and grow the business, without changing what makes Remedy’s games special.
So what’s next? Can the studio balance growth with its story-first identity?
Keep an eye on March 1, 2026, when Jean-Charles Gaudechon officially starts as Remedy’s new CEO, marking the first milestone of the Remedy Entertainment leadership change. The next financial update will show how the studio is tracking projects, growth, and ongoing operations under the new leadership.