Phasmophobia Developer Launches Kinetic Publishing With Five-Game Slate

Kinetic Games has officially launched its own independent publishing division called Kinetic Publishing, the company announced. The studio best known for keeping players trapped in dark hallways with ghosts is expanding its footprint. It's a notable shift for a developer that has spent years focusing almost exclusively on a single cooperative horror hit.

The newly minted publisher revealed its debut roadmap during a showcase, according to Kinetic Publishing, outlining five distinct projects from external developers.

The details

• Precognition: Live-action sci-fi horror from Sam Barlow and Brandon Cronenberg (Spring 2028; PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch 2)
• Crescent County: Cozy-with-bite delivery and racing game on motorbrooms (Summer 2027)
• Contact Protocol: Starship job simulator (Spring 2027)
• Shellbound: Parasitic metroidvania (Summer 2028)
• Aether Wizard Life: Cozy wizard simulation (Fall 2028)

What was announced

The headliner of the new slate is Precognition, a live-action sci-fi horror thriller written by Sam Barlow and directed by Brandon Cronenberg. Scheduled to launch in Spring 2028, the game is headed to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo's upcoming successor console, currently referred to as the Switch 2. For a project with a release window set four years in the future, the announcement serves as a long-term anchor for the publisher's catalog—the video game equivalent of planning a dinner party for 2028.

The rest of the upcoming lineup covers an eclectic mix of genres. Electric Saint's Crescent County, described as a "cozy-with-bite" delivery and racing game played on motorbrooms, is scheduled for a Summer 2027 launch. It is joined by Contact Protocol, a starship job simulator from Cold Zephyr Games slated to release in Spring 2027.

The timeline extends into 2028 with two more releases. Fake Lobster's parasitic metroidvania Shellbound is scheduled for Summer 2028. Shortly after, Vonder Games plans to release Aether Wizard Life, a cozy wizard simulation game targeting Fall 2028.

Why now

Establishing a publishing arm is a traditional route for successful independent developers looking to expand. Managing a portfolio of external titles allows a company to diversify its output across multiple genres and release windows, rather than relying entirely on the ongoing lifecycle of a single flagship game.

For the external developers on the roster, partnering with a publisher backed by a major commercial hit provides a measure of stability in a challenging market. The arrangement shifts Kinetic's role from a solo development studio into a coordinator for a diverse group of creative teams.

Why it matters

The launch of Kinetic Publishing introduces a new funding and distribution option for independent studios. While a four-year roadmap across five entirely different genres is an ambitious undertaking, the variety of the debut slate suggests a willingness to back unconventional ideas. Whether a studio built on ghost hunting can successfully shepherd these diverse projects to release remains the key story to watch.