From Amnesia Fortnight Prototype to Full Release: How Double Fine Built Kiln
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Double Fine's long-awaited multiplayer brawler Kiln is finally launching after nearly a decade in development, turning digital pottery creation into a physics-driven combat sport.
Double Fine is finally bringing its bizarre, long-awaited multiplayer brawler to the masses this week. Originally born during the studio's 2017 Amnesia Fortnight prototyping event, Kiln survived nearly a decade of shifting priorities, major studio projects like Psychonauts 2, and remote development hurdles during the pandemic. Project lead Derek Brand recently spoke with Polygon about the game's winding journey from a scrappy internal pitch to a fully polished release. What started as a simple desire to craft weird little clay figures and make them fight each other eventually evolved into a physics-driven arena game blending creative expression with chaotic team combat.
At its core, Kiln turns digital pottery into a tactical combat sport. Players sculpt custom vessels on a virtual wheel, choosing from different starting sizes that dictate their character class, health pool, speed, and water capacity. The game automatically categorizes player creations into one of eight distinct archetypes based on their shape, tying specific special abilities and combat personalities directly to the physical design of the pot. Matches revolve around carrying water to extinguish the enemy kiln while protecting your own, creating a loop that rewards both creative design and fast-paced multiplayer strategy.
While real-world pottery is notoriously unforgiving, Double Fine deliberately streamlined the digital sculpting process to keep the barrier to entry low. The team wanted to introduce players to the art form without the frustration of ruined clay or cracked kilns, focusing instead on the joy of seeing bizarre player-made creations clash in the arena. For a community that thrives on custom avatars, user-generated content, and physics-heavy multiplayer moments, Kiln offers a refreshing spin on the team-based brawler genre. You can read the full deep dive over at Polygon.
Tags: Double Fine, Kiln, Polygon, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Polygon