Kiln Revealed as Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Secret Game, Double Fine Unveils a Multiplayer Pottery Party Brawler for Spring 2026
The rumored secret fourth game at Xbox Developer Direct 2026 has been confirmed, and it is Double Fine’s next project after Keeper. The reveal is Kiln, a multiplayer pottery party brawler where you play as a pot built from clay and then immediately use that handmade body to smash, outplay, and out survive other pots across chaotic brawling modes.
Kiln is targeting a Spring 2026 release window on PC, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5, and it is built around a simple but extremely marketable loop that Double Fine describes as equal parts creation and destruction. You begin as a small ghost like spirit, then mold yourself a tougher body out of clay. Your first moments are literally spent at a kiln, shaping your character with accessible controls designed to make everyone feel creative fast, even if they have never touched pottery in real life.
In the Xbox Wire, project lead Derek Brand explains the philosophy clearly: real pottery is hard, so Kiln makes pot making instantly approachable with minimal inputs while still allowing players to create wildly different silhouettes.
What makes the system click for multiplayer is that your pot’s shape is not just cosmetic. The body you build determines what you can do in combat. Everyone has a basic attack, but different sizes and shapes unlock different special moves, and Double Fine says there are 24 total special attacks tied to your design choices. The preview calls out examples like a plate shaped pot that can fire a ricocheting trick shot, a cup shaped pot that can blast an area attack that shoots popcorn, and a large cylinder form that can become a massive hammer slam, giving Kiln the kind of build expression that can drive meta conversations and highlight clips.
Customization also goes beyond silhouette. Players can adjust glazes, finishes, and designs, and there is a dedicated lobby space where you can practice, test drive pots made by other players, and shop for more decorations in an in world store called The Wedge. That is a smart retention layer because it keeps the social vibe alive even between matches, and it gives the game a long term personalization runway that fits perfectly with streamer culture and Game Pass discovery.
Double Fine is also building a surprisingly rich setting framework around the chaos. The world centers on Celadon, a deity of creation and destruction, and each arena draws inspiration from ancient mythology. The preview calls out maps themed around gods like Hermes and Dionysus, with gimmicks that turn the environment into an active combat system. One example is a shipping facility packed with conveyor belts and moving packages you need to dodge. Another is a lounge style arena with a dance floor that forces players to dance if they step on the wrong tile, creating a dynamic battlefield where positioning mistakes become instant comedy.
Double Fine also confirmed Kiln will have a beta ahead of launch, with more details coming soon. Like the other Xbox Developer Direct 2026 titles, it will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch and playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming, giving it a strong distribution advantage for multiplayer adoption on day 1.
Do you see Kiln as the kind of chaotic multiplayer hit that can go viral through clips and custom builds, or do you think it needs a deeper competitive layer to keep players engaged past the first few weekends?
