Gravhounds Revealed: Co-op Chaos with Bio-Engineered Dogs in Space

Gravhounds, the debut title from seven-person studio Octopus Panic, was unveiled at gamescom. The game is scheduled for release into Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and PC on November 2, 2026, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass. The studio, composed of developers with backgrounds on franchises such as *Halo*, *Battlefield*, and *Star Wars*, aims to create a smaller, experimental project focused on emergent gameplay and cooperative problem-solving.

Players assume the role of bio-engineered dogs tasked with salvaging alien worlds while managing hostile environments and escalating threats. The core gameplay loop involves accepting jobs, deploying to hostile planets, constructing operations, and extracting resources while attempting to survive increasingly dangerous conditions. Jobs range from recovering alien technology to establishing infrastructure in areas where local wildlife opposes human presence.

Central to the experience is the Grav Beam, an industrial tool used for resource manipulation, construction, and combat. The tool enables players to throw objects, reposition teammates, and improvise weapons, reinforcing the game’s emphasis on cooperative problem-solving rather than simple synchronized shooting. The studio highlights its preference for co-op games where players genuinely depend on one another, with emergent moments and unexpected challenges forming the core of memorable gameplay.

Gravhounds incorporates a systemic design that grants players tools and freedom to combine them in unanticipated ways. Players earn Reward Pods containing randomized weapons and upgrades, allowing for diverse build strategies. The game’s propulsion rigs enable dynamic movement, including boosting, jumping, and high-speed traversal along pipelines, which becomes critical during chaotic base defense scenarios. The studio plans to continue developing the game in collaboration with players through Game Preview.