Animo Stars Arena launches Kickstarter campaign

Indie game studio Animo Industries announced its Kickstarter campaign launch for its inaugural
game Animo Stars Arena.

Players choose their favorite animal pilot, customize a mech war machine, and hunt their prey in this adorably destructive multiplayer shooter.

The start of the crowdfunding campaign coincides with the kick-off of the Summer Games Fest. Animo is participating in The MIX Summer Game Showcase in-person event today, where attendees can get hands-on with all-new gameplay, followed by the debut of a new Animo Stars Arena trailer during Saturday’s Future Games Show Live at SGF broadcast showcase.

Those not attending SGF can download an early playable demo on Steam.

A 2024 GDC Pitch Finalist, Animo Stars Arena is a casual shooter that allows players to fully customize their hanger of ludicrously overpowered combat mechs, then team up in a wide variety of gameplay modes and wreak havoc on their enemies in challenging and ever-evolving battlescape environments.

The mechs are tailored by swapping between dozens of cabins and bumpers; choosing a traversal engine such as treads, wheels, hovercrafts and more; and then arming it with a host of special weapons like flamethrowers and grappling hooks.

Further personalization comes from paint colors and themes, and choosing the driver from a cast of cuddly but cunning, scaled, or fiercely feathered fighter pilots. Multiple play modes provide action for all types of players.

The company said the game provides the same kind of high-energy, playful and chaotic fun that was a hallmark of games like Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. – filling the void left by today’s third-person
competitive/shooter genre trend toward dark, serious and “hardcore” gatekeeping.

The lively colorful town, “cute” pilots, and over-the-top action is relatable to a much broader audience and the gameplay modes are accessible to a wide range of skill levels (key elements of classic mainstream multiplayer games like SSB).

“When we first conceived the idea of cute pet animals piloting powerful mechanical juggernauts, we knew we had the opportunity to make something special in the shooter space; something that could recapture the lighter and more accessible tone of classic multiplayer Nintendo games of our youth,” said Diego Santana, Animo’s executive producer, in a statement. “As the vision became clearer, we incorporated everyone’s favorite multiplayer modes, and some new ones that we think will excite both casual players and more traditional competitive multiplayer shooter fans.”

Animo Stars Arena is the first title from Animo Industries, a new studio comprised of veteran talent from companies such as Activision, Crytek, Epic, Guerrilla Games, WB Games, and more, with credits on titles including Fortnite, Call of Duty, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Killzone: Shadowfall. The team shares a nostalgia for the playful fun and accessibility of classic games of the past, as well as a commitment to creating fun and engaging competitive game experiences that a broad range of players can enjoy.

“The team has been working hard on making Animo Stars Arena a truly unique experience, filling a gap in the mech shooter space, and we’re energized by the response the game has received thus far. Slated for release next year, we are already planning to follow the Animo Stars Arena launch with an even more ambitious game that will allow players to design their own pilots, mechs, and battlescapes and trade them with the community,” said Dave Miller, Animo’s CEO, in a statement. “We believe in this universe we’ve created and its appeal as a long-term franchise.”

The Kickstarter for Animo Stars Arena launches today, with several compelling levels of support including exclusive and limited edition digital and physical rewards, and the goal to raise $350,000 to complete the game and launch in the first half of 2026. Players can show their support, download the demo and wishlist on Steam, join the AMINO Discord, and follow the team’s journey on X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Animo Industries is an independent global game development team of veterans from companies including Activision, WB Games, Crytek, Epic, and Guerrilla Games. Together they share a dedication to creating multiplayer games that are engaging and accessible to a broad audience of players.

The company has seven employees. The company said that some comparable mech games are Mecha Break, Warframe, Titanfall and Mobile Suit: Gundam. The founders include Eduardo Cabrera, creative director and a veteran of Epic Games, Activision and Crytek; David Miller, CEO and a veteran of Warner Bros. Games, THQ, Codemasters, Splash Damage/Tencent; Osman Tsjardiwal, Unreal Engine specialist who worked at Epic Games, Guerilla Games, and Splash Damage/Tencent.

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