Devolver Digital and Le Cartel Studios Announce Simultaneous Releases for PC, Switch, and Switch 2
Online Online multiplayer adds 8 new worlds, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameShare also supports it.
The party game ‘Heave Ho 2’, co-developed by global indie game publisher Devolver Digital and French indie developer Le Cartel Studio, will be released this summer on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. This announcement was made through Nintendo’s ‘Indie World Showcase’ March 2026 edition.
“Return after 7 years”… What’s changed?
Heave Ho 2 is the official sequel to Devolver Digital’s Heave Ho, which has sold nearly a million copies across PC and Nintendo Switch platforms since its release in 2019, establishing itself as one of the Switch’s all-time best-sellers. While retaining the core formula of physics-based co-op action, where arm-like characters cling to each other’s hands and traverse stages, it returns with a massive content expansion after seven years.
Hibho 2 retains the fun of local co-op play from its predecessor while adding a variety of new content.
The introduction of online multiplayer is the biggest change. Two to four players can enjoy online co-op or competitive battles, supporting both co-op and team-based modes. The development team playfully teased the unique “long-distance betrayal” of online gameplay with the tagline, “Hold hands with your distant friends and send them off a cliff from a safe distance.”
Eight new themed worlds will also be added. Each world features a unique concept, including zero-gravity space, a chaotic kitchen, and the Middle Ages. Each world features unique gimmicks and environmental interactions, allowing for different forms of cooperation and conflict.
The Versus mode consists of short, quick mini-challenges, designed to relieve the stress accumulated during cooperative play. With the addition of various new gimmick items like pop guns, sauce bottles, levers, keys, and drones, the game goes beyond simple movement-focused gameplay and enhances puzzle and action elements.
The graphical presentation has also been significantly upgraded. The development team explains that the flow of play has become clearer than in the previous game, with richer environmental details, improved character expressions, and enhanced visual guide elements.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version supports the “GameShare” feature. One gamer who owns the game can play with up to three others, either locally or online, lowering the barrier to entry for party games.
Le Cartel, founded by former Ubisoft developers
Le Cartel, the studio behind Hive Ho 2, is a small indie game developer based in Paris, France. The team began in 2013 when former Ubisoft Paris alumni game designer Frédéric Coispeau and illustrator Alexandre Muttoni met. Later, programmer Florian Reneau and composer Vincent Cassar joined the team, forming the development team.
Le Cartel debuted in 2016 with “Mother Russia Bleeds.” This belt-scrolling action game, set in the Soviet Union and combining intense violence with a retro aesthetic, draws on genre traditions like Street Fighter and Double Dragon while showcasing a unique style. Le Cartel particularly caught the attention of the developers of “Hotline Miami,” establishing itself as a distinctive new studio in the indie scene.
Following this, in 2019, they released their second work, “Heave Ho.” This game started as a 48-hour prototype created during a game jam, and was later completed with the addition of programmer Florence Noé and composer Camille Giraudeau when the decision was made to move into full-fledged development. It is a cheerful and family-friendly party game that is a 180-degree turn from the rough and tumble atmosphere of its predecessor, and is often cited in the indie game industry as an example of “a small studio’s surprising change of direction.”
Hive Ho 2 promises to be more than just a sequel, expanding upon the cooperative humor and chaos of its predecessor. With the addition of online multiplayer and a variety of new content, this new installment promises to establish itself as a leading party game that tests friendships once again. This summer, anticipation is on the rise.
Heave-ho 2 is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026 for PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2802740/Heave_Ho_2/
