Double fine's kiln fails to ignite, sales dwindle despite crossplay

Double Fine's latest multiplayer title, Kiln, has failed to catch on with gamers, despite its unique ceramic-battling concept and affordable price point of €18. The game, which allows players to craft their own ceramic vessels before engaging in team combat, launched with a beta test on Steam from April 9-11 and an Xbox Developer Direct showcase.

Kiln's underwhelming performance

However, the game's simultaneous player count on Steam, as tracked by SteamDB, has remained stubbornly below 200, with a current concurrent user base of just 77. Crossplay, which allows players on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Game Pass to mingle, may help keep the game alive, but it's unclear if it will be enough to sustain a title that appears to be faltering.

Kiln's struggles echo those of Double Fine's previous release, Keeper, which launched in October 2025 and peaked at around 200 concurrent players before dwindling to a mere 8 users today. The concern is that if Kiln doesn't turn things around, it could spell trouble for the studio, which may face the threat of layoffs or even closure.

Against this backdrop, Microsoft's recent adjustments to its Game Pass strategy, including a price drop, may prove crucial in keeping Kiln afloat. The question is whether the changes will be enough to overcome the game's fundamental issues and attract a larger, more dedicated player base.