A new multiplayer title blending cooperative gameplay with social deduction mechanics is set to hit PC next month. OCTOPinbs, developed by tri-Ace and Lasengle, Inc., and published by Aniplex, will launch on Steam in the United States on Monday, May 11, 2026. The announcement was made during the INDIE Live Expo 2026 broadcast, a digital showcase that highlights upcoming titles from developers across Asia and beyond.
A Cooperative Firefighting Game with a Deceptive Twist
At its core, OCTOPinbs combines team-based firefighting with hidden-role gameplay, a format popularized in recent years by party games that emphasize trust and deception. Players take on the role of octopus firefighters tasked with extinguishing fires across various stages before they spiral out of control.
Teams can include between three and ten players, each working together to manage fire outbreaks using coordinated strategies. The objective is straightforward: prevent buildings from burning down by responding quickly and efficiently to spreading flames.
Hidden Enemies Within the Team
What sets OCTOPinbs apart is the presence of impostors within the group. Among the firefighters are disguised “Squid Artists,” whose goal is to sabotage rescue efforts from within.
These hidden players must blend in with the team while secretly fueling the fire and disrupting coordination. Firefighters, in turn, must identify suspicious behavior and remove potential threats before it’s too late.
Social Deduction Meets Real-Time Action
The gameplay requires players to stay alert, balancing firefighting duties with the need to monitor teammates’ actions. Suspected impostors can be captured and sent to the “Octojar,” a mechanic designed to reveal their true identity.
Meanwhile, players assigned the role of Squid Artist can abandon their disguise temporarily to gain mobility advantages, allowing them to escalate chaos more effectively. Their objective is to overwhelm the team by increasing the fire gauge, depleting firefighters’ health, or preventing successful extinguishing efforts.
Developer Insights and Community Response
In a statement accompanying the announcement, publisher Aniplex noted that early reactions from players have been enthusiastic since the game’s initial reveal.
“Since first revealing OCTOPinbs, the team has joyfully read fans’ excitement to call each other’s blazing bluffs,” the company said. “We hope players look forward to fighting fires as OCTOs and sowing chaos as the trickster Pinbs next month.”
The name “Pinbs” is a playful inversion of “Squid,” reflecting the game’s theme of deception and hidden identities.
Pricing, Platforms, and Language Support
OCTOPinbs will be available exclusively on PC via Steam at launch, priced at $9.99 in the U.S. market. The game will support multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, making it accessible to a broad global audience.
The Studios Behind the Game
The project brings together several established names in the gaming industry. tri-Ace, a Tokyo-based studio founded in 1995, is known for its work on action RPGs with complex combat systems. Lasengle, Inc., a subsidiary of Aniplex, has experience developing and operating large-scale titles, including the widely downloaded mobile game Fate/Grand Order.
Aniplex, the publisher, is a global entertainment company involved in anime production, gaming, music, and merchandising, with a growing footprint in international markets, including North America.
Conclusion
With its mix of cooperative firefighting and social deception, OCTOPinbs enters a competitive multiplayer landscape that continues to attract U.S. players seeking interactive, group-based experiences. Its May 11 release on Steam positions it as a budget-friendly option for fans of party games that reward both teamwork and strategic deception.
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