In today’s ‘Meet the Members’ blogpost we talk to Lennart Sas from Triumph Studios.
Are you a member, and would you also like to be featured? Great! Send an email to marlies@dutchgamesassociation.nl and we’ll send you our questions.
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Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your company, and your position in the company.
Hi, I’m Lennart Sas, one of the founders of Triumph Studios—a game development studio in Delft focused on PC and console games. We started back in 1997 and have had quite a journey, working as indies, third-party developers, and, since 2017, as part of the Swedish publisher Paradox Interactive.
You might know Triumph from the Age of Wonders and Overlord series. I am trained as a computer engineer, but my passion has always been at the intersection of different disciplines, which led me toward directing, management and the business side of things. These days, I’m the Studio Manager and Game Director.
We would love to see (or hear) some of your work! What recent work or highlights are you proud of?
This week, we celebrated 25 years since the launch of the first Age of Wonders game. It’s amazing to think that what started as a dream among a group of young people who had no idea what they were getting into has turned into a franchise that spans a quarter century. Age of Wonders 4, released last year, is the best-selling title in the series, and we just launched its fifth expansion. Last year, we were also honored to receive recognition here in the Netherlands, with AoW4 winning Best Game and Triumph named Best Studio.
How long have you been a DGA member, and what was your main reason for joining?
We tried to look up the exact date we joined but came up empty-handed—it must have been pretty early on, close to DGA’s founding. I remember being part of an earlier organization too. Our main reason for joining has always been to support DGA’s efforts in promoting the Dutch games industry to the outside world.
What can DGA do to help your company?
The DGA plays a crucial role in helping create a fertile environment for games businesses in the Netherlands. When we first started Triumph, it felt like we were working on an isolated island, with hardly any resources or interest in game development or investment. But thanks to the work of DGA, pioneer companies, and passionate individuals, that’s changed a lot. Today, we have great educational programs, a solid local talent pool, networking opportunities, and positive advocacy at all levels. Let’s not take this environment for granted, especially now, with the industry facing some strong headwinds.
What ambitions or plans do you have for your company?
Since joining Paradox Interactive, our studio has grown steadily in every way—developing our organization, strengthening our culture, and supporting individual growth—all of which have helped us take our games to new levels. We’re excited to keep expanding Age of Wonders, and who knows what new projects the future might bring.
Anything else you would like to share with us?
After almost three decades in this industry—with all its ups, downs, and constant changes—I’m still just as passionate about it. I totally get why young people today are drawn to game development, just like we were in the ’90s. It really can be the best job in the world. But it’s important to keep balance: take care of yourself and support each other along the way!—
Thank you, Lennart!
Are you a member, and would you also like to be featured? Great! Send an email to marlies@dutchgamesassociation.nl and we’ll send you our questions.