The Xbox event featured a mystery game, and if you actually called it, you deserve a prize. Kiln was a genuinely unexpected reveal. Double Fine has now introduced an online multiplayer title where players create, shape, and control clay pieces. And yes, those clay creations are weapons.

When Microsoft announced Xbox Developer Direct 2026, it teased a presentation packed with updates on Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation. But the broadcast also saved room for a surprise project that instantly got people talking. Because absolutely no one expected Double Fine – the studio behind Psychonauts and Keeper – to be building an online multiplayer game starring cups, plates, glasses, and other clay objects. That game is called Kiln.

No, this isn’t a bit. Tim Schafer showed up during Developer Direct 2026 to unveil a brand-new title coming to Xbox, PC (including Game Pass Ultimate), and PS5, where players sculpt clay creations and then throw them into MOBA-style battles. And players won’t have to wait too long to get their hands dirty, either, because Double Fine confirmed Kiln is scheduled to arrive next spring.

Kiln splits its core loop into two distinct halves: creating clay pieces (your characters) and taking them into online matches (the Quench mode). In the first part, you work inside a virtual workshop packed with pottery tools, shaping cups, plates, and figures designed for combat later on. In the second part, you jump into 4v4 fights where you gather water using your clay character and pour it onto the opposing team’s pottery kiln.

Shape First, Fight Later

According to a deeper breakdown posted on Xbox Wire, both sides of the experience are tightly interconnected. If you sculpt a small, thin piece, you’ll gain mobility and speed on the battlefield – but you’ll also become far more fragile. If you build something larger and sturdier, you’ll be able to take more punishment, at the cost of slower movement. And naturally, the overall shape also determines how much water you can carry during a match.

That’s only the start. Depending on what you create, your clay character can come with a special move, a basic attack, and an aerial strike. In total, Kiln features 24 unique attacks, all inspired by the attributes and form of your custom build. As Xbox Wire describes it: a small plate shaped like a hockey puck can fire a spinning shot that bounces between enemies, cup-shaped pots can trigger an area attack that blasts popcorn, and a large cylinder can turn into an oversized hammer capable of knocking foes down and outright destroying them.

Double Fine is also leaning hard into map design meant to reward strategic play. Information shared on Xbox’s website suggests the focus is on creating diverse arenas with different layouts and key features – the team currently seems more invested in building scenarios than pumping out extra game modes. “After launch, we want to hear the community’s opinions and preferences, and discuss them,” said project lead Derek Brand on Xbox Wire. “At launch, we’re committed to Quench mode and the lobby experience. We’ll ship with multiple maps, each with its own mechanics, and they’ll feel very different from each other.”

As mentioned earlier, Kiln is set to release next spring. We still don’t have a specific date to lock into a calendar, but Xbox, PC, and PS5 players should be able to celebrate the season of bloom with pottery, chaos, and destruction. And beyond Kiln, the same Developer Direct also officially confirmed Forza Horizon 6’s release date, revealed new details about Beast of Reincarnation, and stunned viewers with new Fable gameplay footage.

Source: 3djuegos