Warsaw, Poland - August 28th, 2026 - FOUNTAINS - the genre-bending soulslike/metroidvania releases on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on September 17th, alongside the brand-new Shattered Shape DLC, bringing new foes, new weapons and new lands shrouded in mystery. Pre-orders are now live on both platforms.
The new DLC will release on Steam on the same date.
A new trailer unveils more about the Shattered Shape DLC: youtu.be/IDxNTwxgt6I
FOUNTAINS was already released on Steam, to high acclaim from players. The planned PC update and console versions will include new features, as suggested in the feedback from player reviews, such as adding an adjustable difficulty level, as well as implementing new language options.
The title was developed by John Pywell, and is being published on consoles by Crunching Koalas, veterans of indie console publishing.
For press inquiries and review codes contact pr@crunchingkoalas.com
About the game
FOUNTAINS is a soulslike action-RPG set in a seamless, interconnected world built like a single sprawling dungeon. Players take on the role of a hooded stranger, recently imprisoned by a tyrannical regime, who must escape and uncover the mysteries of the war-torn empire.
Combat in FOUNTAINS is tight and demanding, requiring precision and quick reactions rather than button-mashing. Enemies hit hard and punish hesitation, and adjustable difficulty settings allow players to tune the challenge to their own experience level. Exploration is central to the design: the world twists and loops back on itself, hiding items, abilities, and upgrades that gradually open new paths through its labyrinthine layout.
The game also includes an online messaging system, letting players leave notes for one another - whether genuine warnings or misleading traps. FOUNTAINS combines souls-like combat with metroidvania-style progression, dark fantasy lore delivered through environmental storytelling, and a world built around discovery, with secrets embedded throughout.
Additional information:
- Steam store page: store.steampowered.com/app/1841240/FOUNTAINS/
- DLC Store Page: store.steampowered.com/app/4922440/FOUNTAINS__Shattered_Shape/
- PS5 Store Page: store.playstation.com/concept/10017983
- Xbox Store Page: xbox.com/games/store/fountains/9pb5ncphbbd7
- Switch Store Page: nintendo.com/us/store/products/fountains-switch
- Pre-Order Trailer (YouTube): youtu.be/IDxNTwxgt6I
- Pre-Order Trailer (GDrive) : Google Drive
- Press Pack: Google Drive
- Developer: John Pywell
- Publisher: Crunching Koalas
- Press contact: pr@crunchingkoalas.com
About John Pywell
John Pywell is a Saskatoon-based solo developer who began work on the project in 2019, drawing inspiration from Dark Souls, Hollow Knight and Hyper Light Drifter. Pywell served as the game's sole programmer and graphic designer, later joined in 2022 by longtime friend Eric Ramirez-Erosa, who wrote much of the story, with music composed by Travis Moberg.
About Crunching Koalas
Crunching Koalas is a Warsaw-based boutique publisher and porting studio that focuses on bringing exceptional games to players across all platforms. They have worked on many recognisable and critically acclaimed games (Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, Darkwood and This War of Mine are just a few). Their ever-expanding portfolio is full of great, indie titles and with new projects coming in every year, it is only expected to grow.