Double fine's kiln: a multiplayer clay fiasco?
Double Fine’s track record is undeniably impressive, yet their latest release, Kiln – a multiplayer, clay-shaping brawler – is proving to be a significant misstep. The studio, famed for the visually arresting and mechanically inventive Psychonauts, seems to be repeating a familiar pattern: promising innovation met with disappointing sales figures.
A novel concept, hampered by reality
Kiln, initially showcased during the Xbox Developer Direct and later offered via a Steam beta (April 9-11), presented an intriguing premise: players mold their own ceramic vessels before engaging in team-based arena combat. The price point – a modest $18 – shouldn’t have been a barrier, yet the game has struggled to maintain even a modest player base on Steam. Currently, only around 77 users are actively engaged simultaneously, a stark contrast to the 200 concurrent players it struggled to reach during its initial launch of Keeper in October 2025.
While crossplay – connecting players across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and crucially, Game Pass – is a welcome feature, it’s unlikely to be enough to salvage the situation. The fact that Kiln is readily available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass undoubtedly provides a trial audience, but the numbers suggest a deeper issue. It’s a significant concern for a studio like Double Fine, accustomed to delivering titles with demonstrable audience engagement.
Xbox needs to reassess its approach
The tepid performance of Kiln underscores a critical question for Xbox: are their marketing strategies truly aligning with the type of games they’re investing in? The studio’s past struggles with Keeper – a title that barely cleared 200 concurrent players – serve as a cautionary tale. Microsoft needs to move beyond simply offering access through Game Pass and actively champion these titles, ensuring they receive the visibility they deserve.
Kiln’s current state is particularly worrying, considering the potential for layoffs or even studio closure if such underwhelming results continue. The fact that the game is available on Game Pass provides a lifeline, allowing players to sample its unique mechanics, but it's a fragile foundation upon which to build a sustainable future for Double Fine. The company’s recent shift towards prioritizing exclusive titles – hinted at by 3DJuegos’ recent analysis – could be a necessary course correction, but one that must be executed with far more precision and foresight.
Ultimately, Kiln’s failure isn’t just a commercial disappointment; it raises serious questions about Xbox’s ability to effectively support creative, albeit niche, development teams.