Exploding Kittens is looking beyond the card table! The company has appointed Joeri Hoste as its new head of studio, with the longtime games industry executive aiming to turn the popular brand into a “long-lasting evergreen” name that goes beyond its original card game.
A new boss for Exploding Kittens
Hoste has been promoted from chief commercial officer to head of studio at the Asmodee-owned company. He joined Exploding Kittens in 2020 to lead its international business, having previously worked at board game publisher Ooba Games, toy company BOTI, and trading card and collectibles specialist Upper Deck. The appointment follows former CEO Carly McGinnis moving into a new role as head of Asmodee’s global publishing operation last month. Hoste shared his excitement about the promotion on LinkedIn, describing his six years at Exploding Kittens as the most rewarding of his career. He said the company would continue making games that bring people together, but added that its next challenge was to develop Exploding Kittens into a brand that “outgrows its original format.” That could mean plenty more than flipping cards and hoping you don’t explode!
From Kickstarter hit to global brand
Exploding Kittens first launched in 2015 after raising almost $8.8 million on Kickstarter. Since then, the quirky card game has grown into one of the biggest names in modern tabletop gaming. In 2025, the company revealed that it had sold more than 60 million games as it celebrated its tenth anniversary. The brand has also expanded beyond traditional board games. A partnership with Netflix has brought Exploding Kittens into mobile gaming and animated entertainment, giving the property a presence outside the tabletop market. Now, Hoste wants to build on that success and create a brand that continues to attract players for years to come.
Why Asmodee is looking at party games
Exploding Kittens’ new direction comes as parent company Asmodee continues to invest in the social and party game market. The publisher has highlighted Exploding Kittens as a particularly strong performer, even while parts of the US board game market have faced pressure from rising prices and economic uncertainty. In March, Asmodee agreed to pay up to €250 million to acquire French social and party game publisher ATM Gaming. The deal was described as a way to combine ATM’s strength in Europe with Exploding Kittens’ strong position in the US. Asmodee has also launched US party game studio Moodbox Games, adding to its growing focus on accessible, social games. For Exploding Kittens, this creates an interesting opportunity. The brand already has a recognisable name, a huge audience, and experience across multiple forms of entertainment. The challenge now is finding new ways to keep people coming back.
What comes next?
Hoste hasn’t revealed exactly what the next stage of Exploding Kittens will look like, so there’s no confirmed list of upcoming games or entertainment projects just yet. However, his comments suggest that the company is thinking beyond simply releasing more versions of its original card game. Whether that means new tabletop experiences, more digital projects, or further entertainment partnerships remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Exploding Kittens has come a long way since its Kickstarter beginnings, and its new studio boss wants to keep that momentum going. The kittens aren’t going anywhere. They’re just looking for more places to explode!
