Kiln: Double Fine’s Multiplayer Pottery Brawler Arrives Apr 23

Double Fine is expanding its quirky portfolio with Kiln, a multiplayer online pottery party brawler that blends tight arena combat with a clay‑shaping minigame. First shown during Xbox’s Developer Direct in January, Kiln will launch on April 23 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5 and Steam.

Matches center on a pottery wheel: players shape a piece of clay into a vessel, choose its profile (bowl, bottle, chalice and the like) and decorate it. The chosen form affects gameplay — size and shape determine health, water capacity and movement speed — while decorations remain cosmetic. Smaller pots play fast and light; larger vessels trade speed for punchier survivability and power.

The main competitive mode, Quench, tasks two teams of four with dousing the opposing side’s kiln three times to win, a structure that has some similarities to MOBA objectives. Encounters between vessels become direct confrontations where smashing an opponent or dodging their attacks matters. Maps add playful mechanics: one has sponges that can be saturated to create barriers, another features a disco floor that forces players to dance on flashing tiles for a short span.

There’s no built‑in in‑game voice chat, though players can rely on console party systems or third‑party tools like Discord to coordinate. An open Steam beta runs April 9–11, during which preorders go live. The base game will cost $20; a $30 "Fired Up" edition bundles premium cosmetics and additional in‑game currency called chips. Otherwise, chips are earned through play.

Kiln’s mix of creative customization and lighthearted team combat looks aimed at players who enjoy social, skill‑based party games with a whimsical twist. If you’ve been curious about Double Fine’s post‑Keeper direction, the April beta will be a good chance to spin the wheel and try it out.