Betrayal, Chaos, and ‘Takeshi’s Castle’ Vibes: ‘Task Time’ Surprise-Launches into Early Access

• The Surprise: Shadow-dropped during the Galaxies Showcase live stream.
• The Deal: Free-to-play for the first 48 hours on Steam to celebrate the launch.
• The Pedigree: Developed by veterans of Fall Guys and Gang Beasts at ReadGraves.
• The Content: 8-player mayhem with 500,000+ random task combinations and zero microtransactions.

If you miss the days of chaotic couch co-op and the sheer absurdity of classic Japanese game shows, your Tuesday just got a lot better. Wired Productions and ReadGraves have surprise-launched Task Time into Steam Early Access. To make the deal even sweeter, the game is free to pick up and play for the next 48 hours.

A Digital ‘Takeshi’s Castle’: Friendship is Optional

Task Time pits 8 contestants against each other in a 6-round gauntlet of unpredictable, physics-based challenges. Inspired by the legendary Takeshi’s Castle, the game focuses on the hilarity of failure just as much as the glory of winning.

• Physics of Failure: The game thrives on what developer Sam Read-Graves calls “delightful jank.” Characters slip, slide, and bounce in unpredictable ways, turning a simple race into a comedy of errors.
• Pure Chaos: Whether you’re shrinking your friends, stealing their hard-earned items, or drop-kicking them into lava, the game encourages you to be the “villain” of the party.
• Infinite Replayability: With over 500,000 randomized task combinations, no two tournaments will ever feel the same. One round you might be solving a puzzle while dodging giant hammers, and the next you’re fighting for survival on a collapsing platform.

Pro-Player, Pro-Consumer

In a refreshing departure from modern trends, Task Time features no microtransactions.

• 500+ Cosmetics: Every emote and costume—from ridiculous hats to full-body suits—is earned purely through gameplay.
• Crossover Event: Launching alongside the game is a collaboration with the hit survival game PEAK, allowing players to unlock the “Bing Bong” character cosmetic immediately.
• Streamer Ready: The game features deep Twitch Integration, allowing viewers to vote on hazards and directly interfere with the streamer’s progress. It also supports dual-language streaming (e.g., English/Korean) to help creators reach global audiences.

Quick Specification: Task Time

The Minds Behind the Mayhem

Lead developer Samuel Read-Graves is no stranger to social gaming experiments, having previously released the acclaimed Trolley Problem, Inc. By recruiting talent that helped build the foundations of Fall Guys and Gang Beasts, he has created a game that prioritizes social interaction and “organic” comedy over rigid competitive balance.

“We wanted to drop the game in a way that matched its spirit—total surprise and total chaos,” said Leo Zullo, Managing Director of Wired Productions. With its low price point and high-energy loop, Task Time is positioned to be the next big hit for Friday night gaming sessions.

Official Steam Page: Task Time on Steam