Double Fine unveiled Kiln during the latest Developer_Direct, a unique game blending pottery creation with multiplayer party brawling. Players embody a spirit tasked with handcrafting pots of all shapes and sizes, which then become their characters in team-based battles against other players' clay creations. The core gameplay loop ties custom pottery directly to combat abilities.

Project Lead Derek Brand emphasized making the pot-making accessible with a simple button and control stick, aiming to let players feel like masters immediately. Your pot's shape dictates its special moves, from ricocheting plate shots to popcorn-spewing cups. A key design choice inverts water capacity and health, forcing strategic team composition with a mix of haulers and battlers.

After crafting, pots are fired and taken to The Wedge, the game's social hub. Here, players can train in a dojo, display creations for others to claim, or shop for stickers and trinkets from the dog vendor, Slip. The hub includes a practice punching bag named Potty, rewarding players for testing their combat moves. This structure aims to ease players from creation to competition.

Kiln represents Double Fine's signature quirky design philosophy, merging creative expression with competitive gameplay. By making a traditionally solitary craft into a team-based sport, it carves a unique niche in the party game genre. The approach could appeal to both creative players and those seeking action, potentially broadening the audience for multiplayer titles.