In the gaming industry, where rapid shifts and reliance on individual publishers are common, House of How has chosen a different path. From the start, they have focused on stability and sustainable growth rather than tying themselves to a specific game concept. Studio Manager & Project Lead Oskar Pettersson explains:
– “Unique” is probably a bit of a strong word, but we’ve always chosen to focus more on stability and slow growth rather than coming up with a specific concept. We want to avoid, as much as possible, the traditional model where a game studio is completely dependent on a single publisher or partner.
Diverse partnerships and innovative gaming experiences
House of How has made a name for itself by developing gaming experiences within well-known ecosystems such as Minecraft and Fortnite. One of their most notable collaborations was with Skybound, where they worked on games based on the popular series Invincible.
“We’ve primarily developed gaming experiences for Minecraft and other platforms like Fortnite. We partnered with Skybound to work on the Invincible game. In addition, we’ve partnered with other major publishers and developers to build experiences within their ecosystems,” says Oskar.
One of the cornerstones of House of How’s work culture is transparency. This is evident in our day-to-day work, as updates on upcoming projects are communicated quickly and clearly to all employees.
– We try to make sure our employees know what they’ll be working on as soon as we know ourselves. We’re also open about the challenges that may lie ahead, so that everyone has an honest picture of the situation and can act accordingly. At the same time, we encourage our employees to be open about their opinions. If something seems like a good idea to implement, we make sure to act on it as quickly as possible.
How can you retain employees over time?
Retaining talent in the gaming industry is a challenge, but House of How has managed to keep staff turnover low. Oskar believes it comes down to several factors rather than a single solution:
– We work hard to create an environment where employees feel seen and heard. We are building a work culture that is inclusive and based on trust in the individual. We also strive to ensure that they can take on responsibility in a safe environment so that their contributions feel meaningful.
Hartic as a tool for a better work environment
When House of How started using Hartic, the goal was to establish a better and more structured way to collect feedback from employees.
– The most important thing for us was to find a better and more traceable way to collect feedback and see what our employees think about the company as a whole. This helps us identify areas for improvement and how we can build on our strengths.
One of the most popular features of Hartic is its regular pulse surveys.
– Our favorite tool has been the pulse surveys. We conduct them together every other week during our Monday kickoff meeting, and the following week we review the results. This allows everyone in the company to see the results and discuss next steps together.
The response to Hartic has been positive. Oskar says that one of its major advantages is that it’s a quick and easy-to-use tool.
– It’s so much simpler than many of the longer surveys we’ve used in the past. In my experience, HR-related processes should be as painless and unobtrusive as possible. People want to see the positive results, but they aren’t always that interested in actively contributing to the process.
One clear change since Hartic was implemented is that employees now have a better understanding of the studio’s overall mindset and perspectives.
“The fact that we discuss the results openly has helped create a more open environment, where people are less afraid to bring up things they’d like to see improved,” says Oskar.
Advice for other organizations looking to structure their occupational health and safety efforts
For companies considering starting to use Hartic, Oskar has some clear advice:
– We’ve had a lot of success by trying to make it part of our daily routine. Identify major meetings or other logical touchpoints where you can introduce the tool. That way, it becomes a natural part of the routine, rather than just something that happens every now and then.
With a strong foundation in transparency, a safe work environment, and tools that foster communication, House of How continues to build a sustainable and successful studio for the future.
