Twisted Works, a new studio formed by eight ex-Sony London Studio developers, announced Cast Outs on December 3, 2025, and it looks suspiciously similar to the fantasy co-op game Sony cancelled when they shut down London Studio in February 2024. The reveal trailer showcases visceral spell-slinging combat across a reimagined London under siege from dragons, orcs, wraiths, and other fantasy creatures pouring through dimensional rifts. Players control magical beings like goblins, trolls, and hybrid creatures in 2-4 player co-op runs combining the physical impact of a brawler with the immediacy of a shooter. Cast Outs launches in early access beta during the first few months of 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version being considered post-launch.
London Studio’s Lost Game
Sony closed London Studio in February 2024 as part of layoffs affecting 900 PlayStation employees, approximately 8% of Sony’s gaming workforce at the time. The studio had been working on an online co-op combat game set in a fantasy version of London before the closure. While Sony never officially revealed details about the cancelled project, leaked concept art and insider reports described it as a modern fantasy experience where players used magic and spells to navigate urban environments and defeat supernatural threats. Cast Outs shares remarkably similar themes, visual aesthetics, and gameplay concepts with what London Studio was developing.
Twisted Works was established in 2024 by eight founding members who met at London Studio, suggesting they took the core vision of Sony’s cancelled project and rebuilt it independently. The studio’s tagline Familiar Worlds, Twisted Realities reflects this approach of taking recognizable settings and infusing them with fantastical elements. Cast Outs represents their first announced project and appears to be the spiritual successor or outright revival of London Studio’s lost game, now freed from Sony’s corporate structure and creative oversight.
Gameplay and Setting
Cast Outs takes place in a version of London where fantasy beings from a dying world escaped through dimensional rifts a century ago. Since then, magic has become real, myths have moved in, and fabled creatures live alongside humans in relative peace. Present day, the rifts have reopened, bringing sinister threats into our world. Players control the new generation of fabled citizens whose forgotten powers are awakened by the return of the rifts. You must master emerging magical abilities to fight the invasion and save the city you now call home.
The core gameplay loop involves squads of 2-4 players facing overwhelming enemies and supernatural threats across run-based missions. Players utilize fluid magical traversal and visceral spell-casting to defeat enemies between them and their objectives. Combat emphasizes tight controls, special moves, team synergies, tag-team casting, and team-up moves that create unforgettable moments when powers combine. The developers cite Dungeons & Dragons tropes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Percy Jackson, and the D&D movie as influences, aiming to create TikTok-worthy moments where cooperation leads to spectacular magical chaos.
Mission Types and Progression
Cast Outs uses wide-linear maps rather than open-world design, balancing large urban playgrounds with scripted set-pieces delivering boss-like encounters against iconic London backgrounds. Mission types include combat runs, escort missions, horde survival, speed runs, and challenge modes. Sessions are designed for quick 20-minute bursts or all-night marathons with zero grind and immediate fun. Run-based Roguelite upgrade systems transform abilities mid-battle through power-shifting mutators, keeping encounters unpredictable and replayable.
Progression involves collecting ingredients during missions that craft into charms, remnants of magic from the original refugees. Players can wear these charms into battle for bonuses and benefits. The game also features evolving heroes where players swap between unique characters with distinct playstyles and strategies to master. Cosmetics show off player skills and tenure, while the charm system adds long-term progression without forcing players to grind before having fun.
Developer Pedigree
While Twisted Works is a new studio, its founding members bring impressive credentials from previous work at London Studio and other major developers. The team has contributed to Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil 7, Killzone, and the Total War series. This experience shows in Cast Outs’ production values and ambitious scope for a debut title from an independent studio. The developers understand what makes co-op PvE games successful and are applying lessons learned from blockbuster franchises to create something that stands out in an increasingly crowded genre.
The studio emphasized building Cast Outs specifically for cooperative play from the ground up rather than treating multiplayer as an added feature. Every mechanic, enemy encounter, and level design decision considers how multiple players will interact with systems simultaneously. The focus on true cooperative power where alone you’re dangerous but together you’re unstoppable reflects design philosophy centered on making teamwork feel essential rather than optional.
Platform Strategy and Business Model
Twisted Works believes in a cross-platform ecosystem and plans simultaneous release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S with an early access beta in early 2027. The studio is exploring Switch 2 compatibility post-launch but hasn’t committed due to technical considerations around performance and optimization. Cast Outs is positioned as a mid-tier premium game with pricing yet to be determined, suggesting it will cost less than full $70 AAA releases but more than budget indie titles.
A public demo is planned soon to put the game into players’ hands while the team finalizes platform strategy, crossplay support, input device compatibility, language support, optimization, and hardware compatibility. The early access approach allows Twisted Works to build community feedback into development and avoid the disastrous launches that plague live service games released without adequate testing. Given the studio’s small size and ambitious scope, this cautious approach makes sense.
FAQs
What is Cast Outs?
Cast Outs is a modern-fantasy co-op action game set in a mythical version of London where fantasy creatures invaded through dimensional rifts. Players control magical beings in 2-4 player co-op missions fighting dragons, orcs, and supernatural threats across iconic landmarks.
When does Cast Outs release?
Cast Outs enters early access beta in the first few months of 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is being considered for post-launch release.
Who is developing Cast Outs?
Twisted Works is developing Cast Outs. The studio was formed in 2024 by eight founding members who previously worked at Sony’s London Studio before it was shut down in February 2024. Team members have worked on Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil 7, Killzone, and Total War.
Is Cast Outs the cancelled Sony London Studio game?
Not officially, but likely a spiritual successor. Cast Outs shares remarkably similar themes, visual aesthetics, and gameplay concepts with the fantasy co-op game London Studio was developing before Sony cancelled it and closed the studio.
How many players can play Cast Outs together?
Cast Outs supports 2-4 player cooperative play. The game is designed from the ground up for co-op with emphasis on team synergies, tag-team casting, and combined powers creating spectacular moments.
Is Cast Outs open world?
No. Cast Outs uses wide-linear maps balancing large urban playgrounds with scripted set-pieces. The developers want every district filled with fun activities rather than spreading content thin across an open world.
How much will Cast Outs cost?
Cast Outs is positioned as a mid-tier premium game with pricing yet to be determined. It will cost less than full-price AAA releases but more than budget indie titles.
Conclusion
Cast Outs represents a fascinating case study in how cancelled projects can find new life when talented developers refuse to let their vision die. Sony’s decision to shut down London Studio and cancel their fantasy co-op game looked like another casualty of the industry’s obsession with profitability over creativity. Instead, eight determined developers formed Twisted Works and are building essentially the same game independently. Whether Cast Outs succeeds where Sony’s version might have failed remains to be seen, but the early 2027 release window gives the team plenty of time to refine their vision. For fans of co-op PvE games looking for something beyond the usual sci-fi shooters and zombie hordes, a modern fantasy London invaded by dragons and wraiths sounds refreshingly different. Now we just have to wait over a year to see if Twisted Works can deliver on the spectacle their reveal trailer promises.