Kinetic Publishing Showcase Recap: Every Reveal, Including the New Sam Barlow Game

Kinetic Publishing used its first showcase to lay out a five-game indie slate aimed at 2027 and 2028 releases. The lineup ranges from corporate-space horror in Contact Protocol to witchy open-world racing in Crescent County, parasitic metroidvania Shellbound, the sprawling Aether Wizard Life, and PRECOGNITION, the next game from Sam Barlow.

For developers, the interesting part is the spread of genres and production scopes. These are not small, single-mechanic pitches: each project leans on a strong hook, but also on systems-heavy design, distinctive art direction, and clear audience positioning. Kinetic is explicitly framing itself as a publisher that gives indie teams the support structure they need to execute on ambitious concepts.

The most notable reveal is PRECOGNITION, a sci-fi horror thriller from Half Mermaid Productions, with Barlow collaborating with horror filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg. Kinetic says it will follow the studio’s usual detail-driven FMV-style approach, rewarding players who dig through clues. The other projects also target Xbox Series X|S and PC, and all five are slated for Xbox Play Anywhere, which matters for release planning and platform parity.

The broader takeaway is that Kinetic is building a portfolio around high-concept indies with strong identity rather than chasing a single genre lane. That’s a useful signal for teams watching the publishing market: publishers are still willing to back unusual pitches, but the bar is clear art direction, a sharp hook, and enough design depth to sustain a long runway to launch.