ProbablyMonsters, Led by Former Bungie Chief, Announces Debut Game Slate

Following years of development, ProbablyMonsters, the independent game studio founded by former Bungie CEO Harold Ryan, has revealed its first two titles. The releases mark a significant shift for the company, established in 2019, as it transitions from behind-the-scenes work to delivering consumer products.

The initial offerings include “Storm Lancers,” a rogue-like game inspired by 1980s anime and cartoons, slated for Nintendo Switch. Priced at $19.99, “Storm Lancers” features combo-focused combat and couch co-op gameplay, developed by Jim Veevaert (Microsoft, Zynga) and Seth Thompson (Blizzard). Players are thrust into the world of Cryptica, crash-landing on a living planet where traversal and combat intertwine in ever-changing biomes. While a specific launch date remains unannounced, “Storm Lancers” is expected this fall.

Also debuting from ProbablyMonsters is “Ire: A Prologue,” a psychological horror experience arriving on Steam and Epic Games Store for the same $19.99 price point. Designed by veterans Matt Case (Bungie, HBO) and CJ Cowan (Bungie), “Ire: A Prologue” casts players within the fragmented memories of a young teenager named Emily, who finds herself trapped aboard a vessel in the Bermuda Triangle relentlessly pursued by an unseen entity. The game’s narrative unfolds through looping recollections, gradually revealing the circumstances surrounding Emily’s ordeal and those of her shipmates; it will launch October 28th.

Beyond ProbablyMonsters’ announcements, several other gaming developments have emerged. Electronic Arts released a new trailer for “Battlefield VI” ahead of its open beta, scheduled for August 9-10 and August 14-17. The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown” franchise will launch on Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on August 14th, blending turn-based strategy with beat-’em-up combat from developers Strange Scaffold and Paramount Game Studios. A free DLC expansion, “Island Getaway,” is launching for the life simulation game “inZOI” alongside a Mac version of the full game via the App Store and Steam on August 20th, courtesy of publisher Krafton. Electronic Arts also unveiled “EA SPORTS NHL 26,” with Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, and Keith Tkachuk featured on the cover; it is slated for release September 12th. The family trio’s appearance highlights the game’s incorporation of real-world NHL EDGE data and a revamped “Be A Pro” mode. “LEGO Party!” from SMG Studio, the LEGO Group, and Fictions will arrive on Sept. 30th across various platforms. “Eyes of Hellfire” enters Early Access via Steam on August 27th, priced at $9.99 with a limited-time launch discount. Finally, Wired Productions and Pollard announced a haunting psychological adventure game (title currently omitted).