Thorsten is an Assistant Design Director at Cloud Imperium Games in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he helps shape the vision and systemic direction of Star Citizen. His responsibilities include mentoring design teams, overseeing multiple design disciplines, and ensuring that the game’s long‑term vision is consistently met across all pillars.
He studied Physics at LMU Munich and Computer Science at Fernuniversität Hagen.
Thorsten began his career at Ubisoft Blue Byte as a Tester on the fitness titles Fit in Six and My Fitness Coach Club. Shortly after, he was promoted to Lead Tester for the Nintendo Wii U launch title Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013.
Following the release of Ubisoft BlueByte’s final fitness game, he transitioned into Game Design on Assassin’s Creed Identity for iOS and Android, where he focused on mission scripting, level design and enemy/combat balancing.
He then moved into VR research and development as the sole Game Designer on a new R&D initiative. The project’s success led to the creation of several location‑based VR escape‑room experiences: Escape the Lost Pyramid (2018), Beyond Medusa’s Gate, and Prince of Persia: The Dagger of Time.
From 2020 onward, Thorsten served as the Game Designer and Product Owner responsible for Accessibility and Comfort on Assassin’s Creed Nexus and and unannounced project, developing solutions to reduce motion sickness and improve the overall VR experience.
In 2021, he joined Cloud Imperium Games as a Senior System Designer on Star Citizen. He was promoted in 2022 to Lead Systems Designer, leading the EUPU team responsible for industrial professions and several core gameplay features across the Star Citizen universe.
In 2024, he transitioned to the Core Gameplay Pillar as Lead System Designer, overseeing all System Designers at Cloud Imperium Games.
In 2026, Thorsten relocated to Manchester to take on his current role as Assistant Design Director for Star Citizen, expanding his responsibilities to include cross‑discipline leadership, systemic vision ownership, and high‑level design direction.