Double Fine’s latest title, Kiln, has confirmed its April 23 release date, with the game hitting Xbox Game Pass on the day of its release. The new title continues a tradition of Double Fine titles appearing on Xbox Game Pass after Microsoft acquired the highly regarded development studio in 2019.
Double Fine launched the surreal adventure game Keeper on Xbox Game Pass on the day of its release in October 2025. The title, which saw players taking the role of a walking lighthouse, was generally well-received by critics and fans, with its uncommon concept and gorgeous aesthetic drawing in fans of Double Fine’s unique brand of game design. Prior to Keeper, Double Fine launched the acclaimed sequel Psychonauts 2 on Game Pass in 2021. The long-awaited sequel to 2005’s Psychonauts was widely praised by critics and fans alike for its incredible level design and strong writing, serving as a fitting follow-up to the acclaimed cult classic.
Double Fine’s Pot-Based Brawler Kiln Arrives on April 23
Double Fine’s upcoming title, the concept-heavy multiplayer brawler Kiln, will officially launch on April 23, the studio has confirmed. A series of closed playtests will also occur in the lead-up to Kiln’s launch, with an open beta available from April 9–11. Both the early playtests and the game’s open beta are likely exclusive to Steam players, while the game’s April 23 launch will occur on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The title will be available to Xbox Game Pass players on the day of its release.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Kiln looks to be one of gaming’s more unusual multiplayer experiences, combining the world of pottery with the fast-paced action of a brawler. Players will design their own pots, known as vessels, on an in-game pottery wheel, with each clay creation’s design determining its stats and advantages during gameplay. After creating their vessel, players can team up in groups of four to compete in multiplayer matches via Kiln‘s Quench game mode, where the goal is to transport water via their vessel to the opposing team’s kiln. Players can douse the fire in their kiln to win the game. Along the way, each vessel will engage in physics-based combat, allowing them to damage opposing pots to impede their ability to carry water.
Kiln‘s announcement during Xbox’s January 2026 Developer Direct took everyone by surprise. While the game falls well outside of Double Fine’s typical wheelhouse of bizarrely charming single-player adventures, it somehow also feels like a title only Double Fine would create. Conceived during an internal game jam at the studio in 2017, the title has been fleshed out over time, shifting the game’s aesthetic from a dark and brooding brawler focused on spirits to the eccentric, pottery-centric title seen today. While the game’s concept may seem unusual, most fan reactions to its unveiling have been positive, with open-minded gamers eager to try out the atypical brand of multiplayer mayhem.
Although it’s primarily a PvP multiplayer title, Kiln’s aesthetic and premise make it surprisingly cozy for a game centered around smashing enemies and dousing flames. The game’s central hub allows for more relaxed interactions between players, which feels perfect for such a charming and animated world. Above all else, Kiln looks like a one-of-a-kind experience, making it a treat for the curious fan who may want a new title to jump into with friends. Curious gamers won’t have to wait long before they’re crafting potted vessels of their own in this unique spin on the genre.
- Released
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2026
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
Source: IGN
