The indie scene is about to get a whole lot hotter—and a bit more suspicious. During the INDIE Live Expo 2026.4.25, co-developers tri-Ace and Lasengle, Inc., alongside publisher Aniplex, dropped a bombshell for fans of social deception: OCTOPinbs is officially launching on PC via Steam on Monday, May 11, 2026.

If you thought Among Us was tense, try sussing out a traitor while the very floor beneath you is turning into an inferno.

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What is OCTOPinbs?

At its core, OCTOPinbs is a firefighting social deduction game for 3 to 10 players. You play as a team of adorable Octopus firefighters tasked with extinguishing a massive blaze in a multi-story building.

However, there’s a catch. Hidden among your crew are “Pinbs” (that’s “Squid” reversed and flipped—because you can’t even trust their names). These “Artist” saboteurs want nothing more than to watch the world burn. Literally.

Key Gameplay Mechanics

The game blends real-time action with the classic “who-done-it” paranoia we’ve come to love:

• Extinguish vs. Ignite: Firefighters must work together to bring the fire gauge to 0%. Meanwhile, the Pinbs are secretly setting new fires, aiming to max out the gauge or eliminate all firefighters.
• The Art of Sabotage: Pinbs can use “Squid Art” to blend in, sabotage equipment, or even ditch their firefighter disguise for a mobility boost to wreak havoc.
• Real-Time Combat: Unlike many social deduction games, there are no “meetings” here. Everything happens in real-time. If you suspect someone, you can attack them with your hose or hatchet.
• The Octojar: Think you’ve caught the traitor? Reduce their HP to zero and drag them to the Octojar to reveal their true form and eliminate them from the match.
• Environmental Hazards: As the fire spreads, the building decays. Floors collapse, and staircases vanish, forcing you to jump between levels to stay ahead of the flames.

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A Star-Studded Indie Collaboration

What makes OCTOPinbs particularly interesting is the pedigree behind it. tri-Ace (famed for Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile) and Lasengle (known for Fate/Grand Order) are lending their expertise to this indie project. To top it off, the latest trailer revealed at the Expo features narration by the legendary voice actor Shigeru Chiba, known for his high-energy roles in Dragon Ball and One Piece.

“Since first revealing OCTOPinbs, the team has joyfully read fans’ excitement to call each other’s blazing bluffs. We hope you look forward to fighting fires as OCTOs and sowing chaos as the trickster Pinbs next month.” — Aniplex Statement

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Launch Details

• Platform: PC via Steam
• Release Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
• Price: $9.99 USD
• Language Support: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, German, Korean, Spanish, and French.

Whether you’re a hero with a hose or a master of the matchstick, OCTOPinbs looks set to be the next big party game of 2026. Be sure to wishlist it now to prepare for the heat!

Find out more here – https://s.team/a/2660510

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