Fall Guys Vets Launch 'Panic Stations' to Make "Silly" Co-op Games

A team of senior developers and key figures behind the 2020 smash hit Fall Guys have officially launched a new UK-based studio called Panic Stations. Announced on October 30, the new company is shifting its focus away from competitive battle royales and toward creating "fun, fresh, physics-based co-op games" that focus on humour and teamwork.

This new venture is stacked with veteran talent from Fall Guys developer Mediatonic. The founding team includes Paul Croft, who co-founded Mediatonic, and Joe Walsh, the Design Director, often described as the "design brain" behind Fall Guys. 

They are joined by other core members, including Steve Taylor, original character designer Dan Hoang, and Oliver Hindle, who was responsible for the game's distinctive and viral social media voice.

Panic Stations has a clear and ambitious mission: to make "fun, silly, slapstick" co-op multiplayer games and "release a few every year." This marks a distinct move toward experiences designed to "bring people closer together", prioritising enjoyable social interaction over the last-bean-standing format that Fall Guys popularised.

Shifting Focus from Competition to Cooperation

Panic Stations aims to capture the charm of engaging multiplayer experiences, but with a strong focus on cooperative gameplay mechanics. The studio’s emphasis on humour and physics signals a departure from traditional competitive games, prioritising enjoyable social interaction and accessible gameplay for wider audiences.

"I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get the proverbial band back together and make the silliest possible games we can dream up," said Joe Walsh, who is serving as Design Director. Paul Croft, acting as studio head, added, "I'm a huge fan of the online co-op space... we're aiming to build games that bring immediate joy to players and bring people closer together."

This new beginning follows a turbulent period for the Fall Guys creators. Mediatonic was acquired by Epic Games in 2021 following the game's massive breakout success, but the studio later suffered significant job losses when Epic cut staff in 2023. This move signals a return to smaller, independent roots for the team.

Fans won't have to wait long to see what the team is building. While the studio's first project has not been named, Panic Stations has confirmed it is already in development and will be revealed "soon". The gaming studio, which has launched with quirky, pigeon-themed branding, is currently recruiting for roles in art, engineering, and level design as it ramps up production.