Created the organization around the product
Founded Cursed Studios and established the independent production identity through which Cursed Dawn was developed and released.
Production case study
A game carried through the whole lifecycle
Cursed Dawn is presented here as completed product work: an independent project that moved through production, external collaboration, public visibility, and commercial release.
Project overview
From Finland to a publisher-backed Steam release.
Cursed Dawn began as an independently developed Finnish wave-survival FPS. The project progressed beyond a prototype into a commercial product supported by a publishing relationship, internationally visible promotional events, an official playable demo, and a completed Steam release. The publishing agreement ended and the title was retired in May 2026.
The professional value of the record is not a claim of large-scale commercial success. It is evidence of sustained ownership, external collaboration, measurable platform interest, and the discipline required to finish and release a real-time product.
- Product
- Cursed Dawn
- Category
- Wave-survival first-person shooter
- Developer
- Cursed Studios
- Publisher
- indie.io (2024–2026)
- Founder / lead
- Miko Parkkinen
- Origin
- Finland
- Platform
- PC · Steam
- Release
- April 7, 2025
- Status
- Retired May 2026
Product lifecycle
Long-horizon execution
The record spans ideation, production, publisher engagement, public demonstration, showcase visibility, release preparation, launch, preservation, and retirement.
- 01 Concept
- 02 Prototype
- 03 Production
- 04 Publishing partnership
- 05 Public demonstration
- 06 Showcases
- 07 Release preparation
- 08 Steam launch April 7, 2025
- 09 Post-release preservation
- 10 Retirement May 2026
Scope of ownership
What the public record can support
This page deliberately avoids assigning detailed responsibilities that have not yet been mapped to project records. The current scope stays at the level supported by the founder, product, publisher, event, and release evidence.
Carried a multi-year game beyond prototype stage
Sustained the project through development, public demonstration, external promotion, release preparation, and launch.
Progressed through a publishing relationship
Worked within a publisher-supported path that connected the title to marketing, showcase, platform, and release activities.
Completed a commercial Steam release
Moved from independent production into a publicly traceable release on April 7, 2025.
What's not listed yet Detailed technical responsibilities such as specific gameplay systems, optimization, build engineering, or collaborator management will only be added after each statement is mapped to project records, credits, source assets, or repository history.
External validation
Recognition attached to original sources
The strongest signals come from the combination of a publisher relationship, major promotional channels, platform event participation, measurable interest, and completed release.
IGN Live 2024
Official trailer featured and published by IGN during IGN Live 2024.
Gamescom lineup
Included in indie.io’s Gamescom 2024 lineup without overstating booth status.
Steam Next Fest
Official October 2024 participant with a playable demo and defined platform impact.
Professional outcomes
What the project demonstrates
The project evidence is translated into employer-relevant capability without turning the page into a résumé or using the game to imply unrelated expertise.
| Project evidence | Demonstrated capability |
|---|---|
| Founded Cursed Studios | Initiative and organizational ownership |
| Shipped on Steam | End-to-end product delivery |
| Publisher relationship | Cross-company collaboration |
| IGN, Gamescom, Next Fest | International product positioning |
| Wishlist and traffic metrics | Measurable audience acquisition |
| Multi-year lifecycle | Long-horizon execution |
| Public source archive | Documentation and evidence discipline |
Founder profile
Miko Parkkinen
Software Engineer working across simulation, Physical AI, real-time systems, and product development. Cursed Dawn remains a separate, completed proof of creative and commercial product execution.