How did a nine-year-old concept about competitive pottery transform into Kiln, the latest project from Psychonauts 2 studio Double Fine? “I’m still trying to piece that together myself,” admits Derek Brand, the project lead behind the game.
Launching this Thursday, Kiln traces its origins back to a 2017 internal “Amnesia Fortnight” event, where Double Fine developers pitch fresh game ideas. Out of 25 proposals that year, Brand’s concept—a multiplayer brawler centered on sculpting unique characters with physics-driven animation and chaotic destruction—emerged as the team favorite.
“Internally, it was an immediate hit,” Brand told Polygon. “We tapped into a specific kind of magic that kept the team playing long after the event concluded. It just had that intangible, ‘it’ factor.”
However, the journey from initial prototype to a full-scale release took nearly a decade. Brand balanced his commitment to the concept while serving as lead artist on 2019’s RAD and contributing to 2021’s Psychonauts 2. Ultimately, the team’s affection for the project never wavered.
“We continued development throughout the pandemic, and since our team was largely hybrid, it became a vital way to keep everyone connected and collaborating,” Brand added.
In Kiln, players craft custom ceramic warriors—bowls, jugs, and vases of various scales—to dominate the arena. These vessels must manage their internal water levels while engaging in visceral combat, using fists and specialized abilities to shatter their opponents and safeguard their own home kiln. The gameplay strikes a balance between artistic expression and high-energy destruction.
“The core vision was simple: I wanted to make weird little guys, see others create their own, and watch them clash,” says Brand. “The more we researched the craft of pottery, the more we realized we could use this as a platform to demystify the art form. The creative side can feel intimidating, especially in early playtests where people would get stuck, wondering, ‘What am I even supposed to make?’”
Fortunately, Kiln streamlines the process significantly. Real-world pottery is notoriously unforgiving—often ending in disaster or cracked clay—but this game keeps the focus on the fun rather than the technical fragility.
Players start by choosing from three clay sizes, dictating their fighter’s archetype: hulking tanks, balanced mid-weights, or agile, small-scale units. The game automatically categorizes these creations into one of eight distinct archetypes based on their sculpted form.
“Your health, speed, and water capacity are dictated by your initial clay choice,” Brand explains. “From there, the shape matters. We have eight distinct, detectable forms on the wheel. It sparked some hilarious debates in the office about whether a creation was technically a bowl, a jug, or something else entirely.”
Each shape informs the personality and special abilities of your warrior, forcing players to weigh tactical trade-offs. “Do you prioritize being objective-focused by carrying more water at the cost of durability, or do you build a heavy-hitter capable of sustaining damage?” Brand notes. “Every pot is a series of deliberate strategic choices.”
Brand emphasizes that Kiln isn’t trying to be a technical simulator; it’s designed to unlock player creativity. With options for glazes and stickers, players can personalize their creations while enjoying the explosive satisfaction of physical combat.
“It’s a pottery power fantasy,” Brand says. “We want it to feel like an arcade experience—the Cruisi’n USA of pottery games, rather than a dry simulation like Forza. We want to capture the joy of the studio environment while making the craft accessible and fun.”
Kiln launches on April 23 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. Brand confirmed that the team has a roadmap for future updates, including new cosmetic options, stickers, and game modes.
Source: Polygon
