Kiln Combines Pottery, Mythology, and Team Combat in a New Party Brawler

Kiln was shown on Developer Direct 2026, and it puts a creative spin on multiplayer brawlers by turning pottery into the core combat system. Instead of picking static characters, players craft clay pots and then inhabit them as small spirits, battling across colorful arena maps.

Pottery creation directly drives gameplay. Players mold pots manually using a simple button-and-stick system that stays accessible but surprisingly deep. Shape, size, and weight define everything from health and speed to attacks and special abilities. Small pots move fast but shatter easily, medium pots balance stats, and large pots hit hard with high durability but slow movement.

Each pottery shape comes with a unique kit. Plate-shaped pots bounce attacks off walls, cups trigger popcorn-style area explosions, and cylinder pots slam the ground like massive hammers. With 24 special attacks inspired by real pottery forms, team variety stays high every match.

A central tradeoff shapes strategy: pots that carry more water lose health, while sturdier builds haul less. This pushes teams to naturally form roles like water haulers, frontline fighters, and flexible hybrids—without voice chat. Non-verbal communication takes center stage through emotes, movement, and physical interaction.

Matches take place in the Quench mode, a 4v4 battle where teams steal water and pour it into the enemy’s giant kiln. Players can swap pots on respawn, keeping tactics fluid.

Between matches, players gather in The Wedge social hub to train, shop, and interact. Kiln draws inspiration from ancient mythology, with maps themed around gods like Athena, Hermes, and Dionysus, each adding unique hazards and mechanics.

Kiln launches in Spring 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, and more, with day-one access via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

As for other games, we got to see a first look at Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation during Developer Direct 2026.