Kinetic Publishing Showcase recap: 5 new indie games coming to PS5

Kinetic Publishing, the label behind Phasmophobia’s 27 million sales, introduced its first five titles at a showcase, all slated for PS5 between 2027 and 2028. The lineup includes Contact Protocol, Crescent County, Shellbound, Aether Wizard Life, and Precognition, each developed by independent studios with distinct creative visions. The publisher aims to provide development support modeled after its founder’s early experiences, focusing on empowering indie teams. All titles will be available on PlayStation 5, marking Kinetic’s expansion into publishing beyond its original horror roots.

Contact Protocol tasks players with high-stakes decision-making aboard a corporate-run starship bound for Jupiter’s moon. Using company records, players must assess incoming ships as friend or foe under escalating cognitive pressure. The game blends stressful gameplay with downtime mechanics and unsettling visuals, delivering intense, replayable scenarios. Scheduled for Spring 2027, it emphasizes impossible choices and their irreversible consequences in a sci-fi horror setting.

Crescent County, inspired by the Isle of Wight, offers a painterly, witch-tech island experience blending Kiki’s Delivery Service-style motorbroom rides with local gossip and relationships. Directed by Anna Hollinrake, the game celebrates queerness, found-family, and community through its dreamy, sunset-soaked visuals. Set for Summer 2027, it positions itself as a cozy, narrative-driven adventure with a focus on exploration and emotional storytelling.

Shellbound reimagines the metroidvania genre by placing players inside a living snail, where organs form labyrinthine environments and parasitic abilities reshape traversal. The game combines combat, platforming, and enemy possession mechanics to unlock hidden areas and bosses. Developed with a focus on mastery and discovery, it launches in Summer 2028. Aether Wizard Life, arriving in Autumn 2028, merges town-building, farming, and RPG combat in a Ghibli-inspired haunted town, where players uncover magical kidnappings through daily choices and side quests.