Kinetic Publishing — the new UK-based indie publisher spun out from the team behind Phasmophobia — has officially signed five titles, bringing the entire slate to the PlayStation 5 across 2027 and 2028. While there are no immediate releases on the horizon, the lineup brings together a diverse mix of genres from various developers.
Quick Facts
- Publisher: Kinetic Publishing (team behind Phasmophobia)
- Platform: PlayStation 5
- Release Window: 2027 to 2028
- Total Games Signed: 5 titles
Confirmed Kinetic Publishing Lineup and Release Windows
The publisher's initial slate spans multiple genres, ranging from sci-fi document checking to cosy management and action RPG hybrids:
- Contact Protocol (Spring 2027): Described as Papers, Please in space, players evaluate incoming ship documents to decide who is eligible to dock on Jupiter’s largest moon.
- Crescent County (Summer 2027): A colourful cosy racing game inspired by the Isle of Wight, blending influences from Kiki’s Delivery Service and Akira.
- Precognition (Spring 2028): The next sci-fi horror project from Sam Barlow, known for Her Story and Immortality. Barlow stated an intent to give players more agency and control over story outcomes, though gameplay footage was not shown during the presentation.
- Shellbound (Summer 2028): A Metroidvania title where the developer is actively changing the art style to distance its visual identity from Hollow Knight prior to launch.
- Aether Wizard Life (Autumn 2028): Developed in Thailand, this title blends cosy game mechanics and action RPG elements, utilizing a calendar system for growing crops and tending to mythological creatures.
Player and Studio Impact
For players tracking upcoming PlayStation 5 indies, the 2027 and 2028 windows mean a lengthy wait before these projects reach consoles. No specific gameplay footage has been revealed yet for the publisher's high-profile anchor project, Precognition. However, the studio behind Phasmophobia brings substantial commercial experience to the indie publishing space, having sold 27 million copies of its debut title to date.