Fall Guys Developers Launch New Studio Panic Stations After Epic Layoffs

The creative minds behind the popular game Fall Guys have regrouped to form a new game studio called Panic Stations following significant layoffs at Epic Games. The studio aims to produce a series of cooperative games, humorously dubbed “friendslop,” reminiscent of their previous work with titles like REPO and Peak.

In a lively announcement video, design director Joe Walsh emphasizes that the studio’s mission is to make games that “should be funnier and they should be stupider.” The team, featuring veterans such as engineering director Stephen Taylor, social and community manager Oliver Hindle, and art and music director Dan Hoang, showcased their playful spirit by donning digital pigeon costumes, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that reflects their vision for the future.

Founded in 2005, Mediatonic, the studio that created Fall Guys, was acquired by Epic Games in 2021. However, the studio faced massive layoffs in 2023, prompting some of its key developers to establish Panic Stations as part of a new collaborative initiative called Skeleton Crew, founded by original co-founder Paul Croft. This collective aims to support various independent game companies, including Panic Stations, which is poised to develop several cooperative games each year.

The announcement specifies that Panic Stations plans to release “a few” co-op games annually, tapping into a genre that has gained popularity for its engaging, player-driven experiences. One notable mention is the game Peak, which generated millions in sales with minimal development time, highlighting the potential profitability of such titles.

In the announcement trailer, community manager Oliver Hindle playfully stated, “We want to make games as fun to watch as they are to play,” while humorously referencing his pigeon costume. This emphasis on entertainment reflects the studio’s intention to create games that resonate both with players and audiences. However, engineering director Stephen Taylor humorously suggested, “Let’s not call it that,” indicating a lighthearted banter among the team regarding the genre title.

As Panic Stations embarks on this new journey, the gaming community remains eager to see how their unique approach will redefine cooperative gaming. With a clear commitment to innovation and humor, the developers are set to serve up engaging experiences that invite players to unleash their creativity and, undoubtedly, have fun in the process.