For more than half a decade, developer Double Fine Productions chased after passion project Psychonauts 2 as many fans can recall. The game originally started off as a crowdfunded endeavor way back in 2016, but it was discovered later on in summer 2021 the game would officially hit store shelves. Amid that, the developer found itself in the acquisition crosshairs of Xbox’s Microsoft.
It was clarified that the arrangement would give the game studio more flexibility and a larger budget to pursue its projects – and Microsoft’s involvement would not stray in the way of the creative flow. In a later interview with studio head Tim Schaefer, he revealed the buyout is the reason boss fights and other in-game experiences were made into Psychonauts 2. Schaefer also expressed the next Double Fine game would be a new IP entirely following Psychonauts 2.
Now in a recent string of posts online, one of Double Fine Productions’ next projects is getting some spotlight prematurely. From @NilOggier on Twitter, footage of a Gamejam build dubbed ‘Kiln’ was uploaded which originated from an idea predating back to 2017. The title is a multiplayer game that has you play a ghost who characterizes clay pots and must carry water to extinguish the enemies’ flame.
Elsewhere in a separate thread, @IdleSloth84_ added more context to the future for Kiln. Part of that is a discovery from @ALumia_Italia which reveals Microsoft trademarking Kiln back in fall 2022. The filing on the official United States Patent and Trademark Office Report website shares that the filing status is marked “Yes” for “Intent To Use”. You can read the filing description below:
“Mark For: KILN™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of providing a website featuring non-downloadable game software; providing temporary use of non-downloadable game software; providing online non-downloadable game software; entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; entertainment services, namely, providing online video games; entertainment services, namely, providing online electronic games; entertainment services, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable electronic games; entertainment services, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer games; entertainment services, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable video games.”
Noted, Kiln appears to be another creative project Double Fine could be pursuing after leaving it on the back burner for many years. Similar to Psychonauts 2 given 15 years between the release of the first two games. However, this instance is less aligned to how Bleeding Edge came to be as a product of the Xbox acquisition for Ninja Theory with its trademark dating shorty after the deal finalizing in 2018. You can read the filing by heading here.
What are your thoughts on Double Fine’s Kiln?
