Ireland’s Day Off Interactive Launches, Aims for Innovative Strategy Games

Veteran Talent Spearheads New Dublin-Based Studio

A new Irish game development studio, Day Off Interactive, has officially launched, bringing together a formidable team of industry veterans. The studio, founded in July 2024 and headquartered in Dublin, is dedicated to crafting cutting-edge strategy and simulation titles.

Building Worlds with Esteemed Developers

Operating with a distributed European workforce, Day Off Interactive is poised to announce its first game in September 2025. The studio boasts a roster of impressive talent, including Karoliina Korppoo, Creative Director, who previously led design for the critically acclaimed *Cities: Skylines*. She is known for her expertise in creating immersive “living worlds.”

Des Gayle, Head of Production, brings a wealth of experience, having produced the BAFTA-winning *Life is Strange* and other notable indie titles like *Citizen Sleeper*. His extensive career spans over 50 titles and includes leadership roles at BAFTA Games and POC in Play.

Colman Humphrey serves as Technical Director and Data Systems Architect, leveraging his background in no-code data solutions and AI to focus on the intricate system design of in-game characters and their behavioral responses to players.

Jayne Robinson joins as Fractional Marketing Director, bringing experience from roles at creative agencies and as Brand Manager for Super Evil Megacorp, working on titles like *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate* and Netflix Games’ *Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game*.

Ethan Grant, Studio Director and Product Owner, is a product strategist with over 11 years of experience supporting game startups, including numerous successful Kickstarter campaigns. He leads Day Off Interactive, building on his diverse background across gaming and industrial design.

Karl Rabbitt, Deputy Studio Director and Designer, complements Grant’s leadership with a decade of experience in industrial design and creative production. His work has earned him patents for industrial design and recognition in product design competitions.

Strategic Collaborations and Core Values

The studio is also collaborating with a strong network of contractors and development partners. This includes voice actor Marc Silk, concept artist Johanna Rupprecht, artist Cat Rao, graphic designer Stuart Scargill, and composer Laura Ryder, known for her work on *If Found*. Development partners include MobiusCode (*Exotic Matter*) and Cyborn (*Wall Town Wonders*, *Hubris*).

The studio’s approach to coproduction stems from alumni involvement in SpielFabrique’s Match program, emphasizing cross-studio collaboration for enhanced quality and risk mitigation. This structure aligns with Day Off Interactive’s core values: innovation through simulation, sustainable growth, and fostering a strong community dialogue.

In line with its name, Day Off Interactive champions a fully remote work environment and operates on a four-day work week. This model has been shown to boost employee productivity, with studies indicating that a compressed workweek can lead to increased focus and efficiency, with some companies reporting up to a 20% rise in productivity per employee (Source: 4 Day Week Global pilot program results).