- Bossa Games’ New Title: A Whimsical Sci-Fi Building Game Utilizing Everything from Bathtubs to Camping Cars
- Unveiled at the Gamescom 2026 Xbox Showcase… Scheduled for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in 2026
team17 and Bossa Games have unveiled the physics-based cooperative puzzle game ‘What Goes Up’.
First announced at the Gamescom 2026 Xbox Showcase, this title will be available first via Xbox Game Pass and is scheduled to be released on PC (Steam and Microsoft Store) and PlayStation 5 within 2026. The exact release date has not yet been revealed.
Become an employee of the galaxy’s most ‘extremely dangerous’ trash collection company
‘What Goes Up’ is a 1- to 4-player cooperative puzzle game based on the story of employees who join ‘GALACTIC REFUSE CO.’, a high-risk waste disposal company in the galaxy.
The player must navigate a dangerous planet piled with all kinds of debris from Earth, clean up the waste, and stack it into a giant tower to transport it to a recovery ship. The key is to utilize a grab gun and hoverpack to fight against gravity and build structures in any direction—up, down, or sideways.
It is possible to design it meticulously so that each item stably supports the next. Conversely, it is also possible to reach the summit by haphazardly throwing in bathtubs and campervans.
Unexpected situations where someone places a hot dog cart in the wrong place and the entire tower collapses during the process of planning and building with up to three friends are also considered part of the fun of the game.
Various obstacles such as lava rivers, electric shock hazards, and malfunctioning jump pads appear throughout, and there is also an element of customizing by finding colorful outfits hidden in trash heaps.
Chaos unfolding in a colorful sci-fi space junkyard
The setting of ‘What Goes Up’ is a colorful sci-fi world where seemingly useless objects, such as hot dog carts, solar panels, and rusty bathtubs, actually become the key materials for completing a tower.
The released trailer captured the chaotic atmosphere of a space junkyard, a unique stacking method, and unpredictable situations that unfold during cooperative gameplay.
Bossa Games is a developer known for showcasing quirky comedy derived from physics engines through titles such as ‘Surgeon Simulator’, ‘I Am Bread’, and ‘I Am Fish’. It is expected that the so-called ‘aesthetics of collapse’ and a cheerful atmosphere will continue in this work as well.
A renowned London developer of creative cooperative games that started at a game jam
Bossa Games is an independent game development studio based in London, UK. Having released distinctive games for over 10 years, the company has gained recognition for its unique gameplay through titles such as ‘Surgeon Simulator’, ‘I Am Bread’, and ‘I Am Fish’.
The studio is focusing on creating cooperative games that friends can enjoy together and share experiences. According to Anthony Kyne, Studio Head at Bossa Games, ‘What Goes Up’ is a game jam project that started with the idea of creating a playground where friends can build, experiment, and cause a ruckus together.
Numerous gaming media outlets reported quickly immediately after the Gamescom reveal
Immediately after the Gamescom reveal of ‘What Goes Up’, numerous international gaming media outlets, including Gematsu, mxdwn, Niche Gamer, and VGChartz, promptly reported the news.
The media focused on the unique worldview where ordinary waste, such as hot dog carts, solar panels, and rusty bathtubs, is transformed into construction materials, as well as the cooperative gameplay shown in the trailer.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bossa Games, known for their creative cooperative games,” said Harley Homewood, General Manager of team17. “We are excited to bring a fun and chaotic puzzle game to Xbox Game Pass users.”
The collaboration between Bossa Games, known for its strengths in physics-based comedy games, and team17, which has showcased a variety of indie games, has garnered attention since the initial announcement. Key points to watch include how an idea originating from a game jam will be completed as a full-fledged game, and how much laughter the chaos of cooperative play will generate after launch.
Information regarding ‘What Goes Up’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bossa Games (London, UK) |
| Publisher | team17 |
| Genre | Cooperative physics-based puzzles, building and sandbox |
| platform | Xbox Series X |
| Release date | Scheduled for release in 2026 (exact date undisclosed) |
| personnel | 1-4 player co-op |
| etc | Xbox Game Pass support |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
