Winterkeep Interactive Appoints Mattias Wiking as CEO to Lead Studio Growth

Former Paradox Interactive Studio Head joins Winterkeep as CEO

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Umeå, Sweden, January 15, 2026 - Winterkeep Interactive, a strategy game studio based in Umeå, Sweden, has appointed Mattias Wiking as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mattias brings more than two decades of experience in building and leading game studios. His background includes roles at Grin, Starbreeze, and Turborilla, as well as founding Paradox Arctic in Umeå in 2014, where he established and led Paradox Interactive’s northern studio. He takes over from Karl Emdin, who served as CEO during Winterkeep’s early phase.

The Winterkeep team brings together developers with multiple years of experience in deep and engaging strategy game development at Paradox Interactive, as well as prior collaboration on multiple game projects at other studios.

"I'm really happy that Mattias is stepping in as CEO. He knows our team and what we're building here, and he just brings tons of experience along with a huge international network in gaming. Being CEO has been great, but this allows me to focus 100% on the game development, which is what I do best. Having Mattias take the lead feels fantastic, and it will make our team stronger and more versatile than ever," said Karl Emdin, who remains Chairman of the Board.

For Mattias Wiking, the role marks a return to close collaboration with people he has previously worked with.

“It truly feels like coming home. I have worked closely with everyone at the studio before, and we share a clear alignment on the goals and long-term direction. Winterkeep has a rare combination of experience, ambition, and culture. I’m excited to lead and grow the studio, and build on that foundation together with the team,” said Mattias Wiking, CEO at Winterkeep Interactive.

Winterkeep Interactive is backed by Behold Ventures, who view the appointment as a key milestone in the studio’s development.

“This is the final piece of the puzzle. Winterkeep already has a strong team and a clear creative vision. With Mattias stepping in as CEO, the studio now has the leadership needed to take the company forward,” said Karl Magnus Troedsson, Founder and Managing Partner at Behold Ventures.

As CEO, Mattias Wiking will lead Winterkeep Interactive through its continued growth, focusing on building the studio and team and working closely with partners to secure funding. The studio’s first premium PC title, a fantasy 4X strategy game currently in development, is planned to go into full production toward the end of 2026.

About Winterkeep Interactive

Winterkeep Interactive is a Swedish strategy game studio founded in 2025 by industry veterans and based in Umeå. The studio focuses on building deep, replayable, and expandable strategy games that invite players to explore rich worlds and shape their own stories. 

Website: www.winterkeep.com

Press contact: press@winterkeep.com

About Behold Ventures

Behold Ventures is a Swedish specialist venture capital fund investing in early-stage European gaming startups with a particular focus on the Nordics. Founded in 2021 by gaming veterans Karl Magnus Troedsson, Sigurlína Ingvarsdóttir, and Magnus Kenneby, the fund is led by a team with deep operational gaming industry experience, an extensive international network, and a clear strategy for long-term value creation. Behold Ventures invests in both game developers and companies building gaming tools and technologies.

Website: www.behold.vc