Octopus Panic Studio announced the collaborative action game GRAVHOUNDS at the opening ceremony of Pamescom 2026. The game will be released in early access on PC on November 2, 2026 (steamMicrosoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S. On the same day, the project will also be available to Game Pass subscribers.
GRAVHOUNDS was developed by a team of DICE and 343 Industries veterans. Development is being led by Josh Holmes, former creative director of Halo 4 and head of Halo Studios. Octopus Panic Studios is comprised of seven full-time developers and independently funds and publishes games.
Players will take control of bioengineered working dogs and send them to dangerous alien planets to extract valuable resources. The squad must simultaneously battle local creatures, build infrastructure, and try to evacuate before the aggressive swarm completely takes over the territory.
One of the main mechanics is gravity control. Using a special gravity beam, you can hurl objects across the battlefield and knock back enemies. Turrets, generators, and production units must also be placed within the mine, and then pipes laid between them to provide the base with energy and transportation resources.
Each mission is built around risk and reward. The longer the team stays on Earth to obtain more valuable materials, the more powerful the alien group becomes. Players must decide when to leave, as additional loot increases potential rewards while also making it more difficult to return to the extraction point.
During missions, characters will be able to acquire new abilities and upgrades, combine rewards and change gear according to the situation. High mobility will allow you to accelerate in any direction, hover in the air and quickly change position under enemy fire.
“The original idea for GRAVHOUNDS was simple: a group of everyday working dogs find themselves on the other side of the galaxy, but people still want them to show up to work,” said Josh Holmes, co-founder of Octopus Panic.
“We started Octopus Panic because we wanted to get back to the core of development and make games again. With seven full-time developers on the team, each of us is involved in every aspect of development. We can make changes quickly without unnecessary bureaucracy and, most importantly, stay close to players,” said studio co-founder Scott Sims.
