- Unveiled at the Gamescom 2026 Xbox Showcase, launching in December on PC and Xbox via PC Game Pass
- A physics-based cooperative sandbox where up to 4 players become a raccoon gang to loot and escape.
Publisher Curve Games and startup developer Coyote House Games have unveiled the cooperative sandbox game ‘Dumpster Gang’ .
‘Dumpster Gang’ was first revealed at the Gamescom 2026 Xbox Showcase. It is scheduled to be released on PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) and Xbox PC in December 2026, and will also be available to play via Xbox PC Game Pass starting from day one.
The game is garnering attention on Steam with tags such as 3D casual platformer, simulation, multiplayer, and comedy. It features bright and cute visuals instead of a heavy, realistic atmosphere, and cooperative gameplay involving navigating unpredictable physics-based chaos is the core fun element.
A chaotic comedy about becoming a raccoon gang and alternating between looting and escaping
Players can experience the cheerful, unique behaviors of raccoons, such as rummaging through trash cans for junk or stealing snacks. In particular, the game emphasizes the fun of cooperation, going beyond simple solo play where players search for items to join forces with teammates to transport loot and solve puzzles hidden throughout the area.
Traps set by Exterminators to catch raccoons are also scattered throughout the area. Players must cooperate according to the situation, such as avoiding traps and rescuing captured companions.
After causing a commotion all day, you can return to your hideout and decorate the space with the junk you stole. There is also an element where you can wear various hats with different abilities to use in your next activity.
In particular, it is characterized by the combination of simple controls and a physics-based sandbox system, where unexpected chain reactions and events occur depending on the player’s actions. Rather than solving problems in a fixed manner, it emphasizes gameplay where players utilize the surrounding environment to resolve situations in their own ways.
A comical farce completed with colorful graphics and physics effects
‘Dumpster Gang’ highlights its main features through Steam tags as a 3D casual platformer, physics-based simulation, multiplayer, comedy, cute graphics, and colorful visuals.
This confirms that the game focuses on bright, cartoonish graphics and cheerful situations rather than a realistic and dark atmosphere.
Jake Ellis, co-founder of Coyote House Games, explained that they wanted to incorporate as many elements of real raccoon behavior into the game as possible, such as raccoons eating trash, stealing items, climbing around, and causing all sorts of commotion.
In particular, as it is designed to create unexpected situations as multiple players interact with the environment simultaneously, it is expected that even more diverse and comical scenes will be created when playing with friends.
Coyote House Games, a new studio formed by college friends.
Coyote House Games is a fledgling two-person development team founded by two college friends who shared an interest in cooperative games and raccoons.
Co-founder Samuel Malone has built a career in the multiplayer gaming field and served as the Game Director for the cooperative multiplayer game ‘Midnight Ghost Hunt’ . He has experience working in the VFX field as well as the gaming industry.
Another co-founder, Jake Ellis , worked on animation projects at Marvel and Warner Music for about 10 years before expanding his scope of activity into game development.
‘Dumpster Gang’ is the first game by Coyote House Games, founded by two people.
Overseas media rushed to report on it immediately after the Gamescom reveal
Immediately after ‘Dumpster Gang’ was revealed at the Gamescom 2026 Xbox Showcase, related reports from overseas gaming media followed.
Game specialized media outlets such as Gematsu, Blue’s News, and Slanted Game reported on the game on the day of its announcement, and several local media outlets, including the Portuguese media OtakuPT, also introduced ‘Dumpster Gang’.
The official Xbox blog also shared the background of the development, introducing an anecdote about how the two developers personally visited the Curve Games office to propose the game idea.
Although it is still too early for concrete community evaluations to form, it is noteworthy as a new title targeting the cooperative sandbox genre, given that it attracted the attention of various international media outlets with just a short announcement video.
Although ‘Dumpster Gang’ is the debut title of a fledgling two-person development team, it stands out for being produced by a developer who was the game director of ‘Midnight Ghost Hunt’ and a veteran with experience in the major animation industry . With the added publishing support from Curve Games, expectations for its quality are also rising.
It remains to be seen how players will react to the raccoons’ chaotic looting and physics-based antics following the release in December 2026.
Information regarding the ‘ Dumpster Gang’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Coyote House Games (New two-person studio – Co-founders Samuel Malone, Jake Ellis) |
| Publisher | Curve Games (Cologne, Germany) |
| Genre | Cooperative Sandbox, Casual 3D Platformer, Physics-based Comedy |
| platform | PC (Steam, Microsoft Store), Xbox on PC |
| Release date | December 2026 |
| personnel | 1-4 Player Online Co-op |
| etc | Xbox PC Game Pass support from day one |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Unreleased with no user reviews; reported quickly by numerous international media outlets immediately after the Gamescom reveal |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
