February 13, 2026 – Independent game developer and publisher ProbablyMonsters has officially announced its latest project, Crimson Moon, a co-op action RPG set to launch later this year. This new title promises a gothic, high-Renaissance setting and a strong emphasis on cooperative gameplay, building upon the studio’s commitment to creating diverse and high-quality gaming experiences. Further details on Crimson Moon can be found in a dedicated news story.
The announcement of Crimson Moon follows a period of significant activity for ProbablyMonsters, particularly with the recent release and reception of their debut title, Storm Lancers. This action rogue-like, initially launched on Nintendo Switch in September 2025, made its way to Nintendo Switch 2 and PC platforms (Steam and Epic Games Store) last month for $19.99. A notable aspect of the Switch 2 release is the complimentary upgrade for existing Nintendo Switch owners, underscoring the studio’s focus on player accessibility.
In an exclusive interview conducted following the Storm Lancers launch, the ProbablyMonsters team shared insights into their development philosophy, their relationship with Nintendo’s latest console, and their stance on artificial intelligence in game creation.
ProbablyMonsters: A New Paradigm in Game Development
Founded with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing how games are made and careers are built within the industry, ProbablyMonsters operates with a unique organizational structure. With offices strategically located in Fort Worth, Texas, and Bellevue, Washington, the studio leverages a team comprised of seasoned AAA industry veterans. This collective expertise allows for the simultaneous development of multiple games across various scales, a strategy that began bearing fruit in the previous year with the release of their inaugural titles: Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue. The studio’s commitment is to deliver a consistent stream of high-quality PC and console titles annually.
Storm Lancers: A Co-op Rogue-like with Retro Flair
Storm Lancers is described by its creators as an action rogue-like that artfully blends retro 80s aesthetics with high-octane combat. The game introduces a novel twist to the popular rogue-like genre by incorporating couch co-op functionality. Players are thrust into the role of survivors who crash-land on a volatile alien world steeped in unstable magic. Their objective is to cooperate, unlock new abilities, battle evolving enemy hordes, and grow in power.
While Storm Lancers can be enjoyed solo, its core design is centered around two-player co-operation. The game leverages platform-specific features like Nintendo Switch 2’s GameShare and Steam’s Remote Play Together. These technologies enable players to team up even if only one of them possesses a copy of the game, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for cooperative play. The development team expressed that integrating co-op into a rogue-like experience presented an engaging challenge, and they hope players have found mutual enjoyment in becoming "true legends of Cryptica" together.
Initial Reception and Community Feedback
The initial reception to Storm Lancers has been largely positive. Players have particularly lauded the two-player co-op feature, the game’s visually vibrant art style, and its responsive controls. As the studio’s inaugural release, Storm Lancers was developed with a more contained scope to facilitate the team’s initial foray into self-publishing. This approach has led to community feedback suggesting a desire for more content, which the developers view as a positive indicator of player engagement and enjoyment.
"In our minds, this is great feedback because it signals that players resonate with the experience we’ve created and are really having fun, which was our primary goal with Storm Lancers," a spokesperson for ProbablyMonsters stated.
The team also acknowledged reports of performance issues affecting the recently released Steam version of the game. A patch is currently in development to address these concerns and is expected to be deployed within the next few weeks. Players are advised to monitor the studio’s Discord and X (formerly Twitter) channels for official patch announcements.
Strategic Platform Choices: Nintendo’s Dominance in Co-op
The decision to prioritize Nintendo platforms for Storm Lancers’ initial console release was a deliberate strategic choice. Nintendo has been a valued partner for ProbablyMonsters, and the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are considered ideal environments for a co-op title that can be enjoyed both at home and on the go. A key design consideration for Storm Lancers was its compatibility with a single Joy-Con controller, making it exceptionally easy for players to invite a friend to join their gaming sessions. The opportunity to be featured in a Nintendo Direct presentation in September 2025 provided the perfect platform for the game’s stealth launch.
Currently, ProbablyMonsters has no immediate plans to launch Storm Lancers on PlayStation or Xbox consoles. Their primary focus remains on expanding their audience on Steam and supporting the European release of the Switch 2 version on January 22nd. The company has indicated that they will inform their fanbase should any plans for PlayStation or Xbox releases materialize in the future.
The Significance of GameShare for Co-op Experiences
The integration of Nintendo Switch 2’s GameShare feature into Storm Lancers is seen as a pivotal element for the game’s co-op appeal. GameShare provides a unique avenue for fostering a couch co-op-like experience for players who may not be geographically close. The ability to share the same screen and play using a single game copy creates a fluid and immersive cooperative session. The ProbablyMonsters team expressed enthusiasm upon Nintendo’s announcement of this feature, recognizing its potential to offer "massive value for households and friends who want to play together." From a self-publishing perspective, GameShare is also viewed as an effective tool for organic promotion.
Implementing GameShare into Storm Lancers proved to be a straightforward process for the development team. Their engineering department managed to integrate and release the feature in just over a month, highlighting the efficiency and user-friendliness of the underlying technology. This provided a quick and effective solution for incorporating online multiplayer capabilities without the need for extensive custom development.
Nintendo Switch 2: A Powerful Canvas for Ambitious Games
Beyond GameShare, the ProbablyMonsters team holds a favorable view of the Nintendo Switch 2 as a whole. The console’s enhanced hardware capabilities are expected to empower developers to pursue more ambitious projects concerning art pipelines, performance optimization, and overall graphical fidelity. Experiencing Storm Lancers in 4K resolution at a consistent 60 frames per second on the Switch 2 was described as a "truly special" achievement, demonstrating the potential of the new hardware.
Regarding criticisms surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2’s HDR capabilities, the ProbablyMonsters team reported no development-side issues. They found Storm Lancers to exhibit impressive visual quality with the expanded color range. While acknowledging consumers’ right to critique technology that doesn’t meet their expectations, the developers maintain that their experience with the HDR feature was positive.
Diversifying Genres: Ire: A Prologue and Future Projects
In addition to Storm Lancers, ProbablyMonsters also launched Ire: A Prologue in October, a distinctly different horror-inspired experience. This move signals the studio’s intention to explore a wide array of genres. The company has confirmed that "several titles are in development for release over the next couple of years," aiming to cater to a broad spectrum of player preferences. Further announcements regarding these upcoming projects are anticipated in the coming months.
AI in Game Development: A Tool, Not a Replacement
As a company that prioritizes its people, ProbablyMonsters firmly believes in creating games "by people, for people." Their policy on AI usage in game development reflects this ethos. While open to employing AI as a tool for streamlining administrative tasks and automating repetitive technical processes, particularly to assist smaller teams in developing ambitious projects, they draw a clear line at using AI for asset generation or creative decision-making. All final assets in their games undergo thorough review, refinement, and approval by their human development team. This approach ensures that the creative vision and artistic integrity of their games remain firmly in human hands, reinforcing their commitment to a human-centric development process.
The strategic vision of ProbablyMonsters, as articulated through their recent releases and future plans, positions them as a noteworthy independent studio. Their focus on cooperative gameplay, innovative use of platform features, and a balanced approach to emerging technologies like AI suggests a studio poised for continued growth and impact in the gaming landscape. The upcoming launch of Crimson Moon is anticipated with considerable interest, promising another unique experience from this ambitious developer.