Former Empire of the Ants Devs Form AARISE and Reveal 3D Collectathon Kiwi Boing for 2027
When La Rochelle-based studio Tower Five shut its doors only a few months after shipping the visually striking Empire of the Ants (Les Fourmis) in November 2024, it felt like a harsh blow for the French development scene. Rather than parting ways, twelve core members of that original team decided to stay in La Rochelle and establish a brand-new independent studio called AARISE. Their debut title, Kiwi Boing, has now been officially unveiled alongside a first playable demo showcased at the French Pavilion during Paris Games Week 2026.
AARISE: A La Rochelle Rebirth Built Around Focused Double-A Craft
Headquartered in La Rochelle with support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, AARISE brings together twelve veteran developers led by CEO Olivier Lambert and Producer Damien Boussiron, alongside the gameplay programmers, 3D artists, animators, and sound designers who built Empire of the Ants. The studio's name is a direct portmanteau of "AA" and "Arise", reflecting a commitment to focused, high-craft Double-A games free from modern AAA bloat.
For its inaugural project, the team has pivoted away from photorealistic real-time strategy toward a tactile, colorful world sculpted entirely with a handcrafted clay-style aesthetic.
A Slapstick 3D Collectathon Where Your Beak Replaces Wings
In Kiwi Boing, players step into the webbed feet of a flightless kiwi bird whose vacation plane crashes in pieces across three tiny open-world islands that were never on the itinerary. Each island features its own climate and a cast of eccentric locals, challenging players to scavenge scattered aircraft components, collect tourist coins, and uncover the truth behind the crash.
What the bird lacks in flight, it more than makes up for with an expressive, fast-paced repertoire of 3D platforming maneuvers:
- High-velocity acrobatic chains: Players can link together classic Super Mario 64-style triple jumps, rolls, bounces, and air dashes to build momentum across open levels.
- Beak-planting traversal and mischief: The kiwi can jam its beak into walls to scale towering lighthouses, fling itself onto hidden ledges, or peck at questionable switches with irreversible slapstick consequences.
- Non-linear odd jobs: Recovering plane parts and unlocking cosmetic outfits means taking on ridiculous tasks from island residents in any order. Highlights include acting as a live cannon dart for pirates, carrying a drink tray for a bartender working remotely through a boombox, and dealing with terrible underwater music that has pushed the local fish to walk onto dry land.
Q4 2027 Release Window and Platforms
Designed as a standalone premium release with zero microtransactions, Kiwi Boing is scheduled to launch in Q4 2027 for PC and consoles. PC players can already wishlist the game on the official Kiwi Boing Steam page and the Epic Games Store as it joins the growing 2027 video game release calendar.
Check Kiwi Boing deals on Allkeyshop→
My Take: Trading Photorealism for Pure Movement Joy
Seeing twelve developers from Empire of the Ants regroup under their own banner in La Rochelle is a genuinely heartening story in a tough industry climate. What stands out to me most about Kiwi Boing is how boldly AARISE has embraced a complete creative pivot. Instead of chasing microscopic photorealism again, the team is channeling pure 3D platforming kineticism and physical comedy. The beak-sticking traversal mechanic immediately gives the character a tactile, elastic identity, and the clay-molded art direction makes these three miniature islands look like a joy to poke around in.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles 'Grimtag' Ronchain is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading game price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
