A new studio formed by former Empire of the Ants developers has revealed its first game. AARISE has announced Kiwi Boing, a comedic 3D platformer about a flightless kiwi, which is due on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as consoles, in the fourth quarter of 2027. Its first playable demo is debuting during Paris Games Week.
AARISE was founded in March 2026 by 12 developers who previously worked on Empire of the Ants, following the closure of Tower Five. Led by founder Olivier Lambert, the team raised close to €1.4 million within six months through a combination of equity, public and institutional funding, and an Epic MegaGrant to fund its debut game.
In Kiwi Boing, players help a kiwi find its way home after its plane crash-lands in a colourful archipelago. Getting around the handcrafted islands involves bouncing, wall-jumping and air-dashing, with plenty to explore. Along the way, the kiwi takes on odd jobs that no one else wants, makes friends with eccentric locals and collects scattered plane parts to rebuild the aircraft.
