PRESS KIT | AUGUST 2026
STEAM RELEASESeptember 16, 2026 PLATFORM
Windows, Mac, Linux DEVELOPER
FIFTYTWO Steam • Official website
Media contact: hello@wefiftytwo.com
THE SHORT VERSION
Populus Run at a glance
30-SECOND PITCH
Populus Run is a bright, music-fueled running game in which players guide an entire crowd rather than a single runner. Every level is choreographed to an original soundtrack, while giant desserts, fast-food hazards, explosions, secret routes and rapping bosses keep the run joyfully unpredictable.
Fact sheet
Title Populus Run
Release date September 16, 2026
Platform Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Genre Music-fueled crowd runner / action-platformer
Developer FIFTYTWO, a three-person independent studio
Players Single-player
Controls Keyboard and full controller support
Steam features Achievements, Cloud, and Family Sharing
Languages English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Turkish
Contact hello@wefiftytwo.com Primary links
Steam page store.steampowered.com/app/3989220
Official game site populusrun.wefiftytwo.com
Studio wefiftytwo.com
Trailer https://youtu.be/gYDuAPD307k
WHY IT STANDS OUT
One runner is predictable. A whole crowd is not.
Populus Run turns the familiar auto-runner into a crazy crowd-management game. The group stretches, compresses and pours around hazards, making every near miss more readable, physical and funny than controlling a single character.
Populus Run communicates its chaos at a glance.
Key features
- Guide a crowd — keep a group of runners together through tight turns, obstacles and explosions.
- Run to an original soundtrack — each level is staged around its own music and rhythm, composed by Swedish musician Ratvader.
- Dodge food on an absurd scale — giant pastries and fast-food hazards turn every course into a visual punchline.
- Battle rapping bosses — musical set pieces break up the run with character and spectacle.
- Explore beyond the obvious route — rooftops, branching paths and hidden characters reward curiosity.
- Unlock Hardcore Mode — a tougher way to play for gamers who want another lap.
- Play in short, uplifting sessions — easy to pick up, satisfying to master and readable on video.
VISUAL AND CREATOR HOOKS
Built for movement, music and surprise
The strongest editorial hook is the collision of three ideas: crowd control, music-choreographed courses and oversized food.
Riding slides while dodging candies.
Coverage angles
News The former Apple Arcade exclusive game arrives on Steam on Sept 16, 2026.
Indie discovery A three-person indie studio rethinks the runner around an entire crowd.
Music / rhythm Every course is choreographed to an original soundtrack, without pretending to be a traditional rhythm game.
Platforming / challenge Difficult obstacles, branching paths, and Hardcore Mode will become a serious challenge.
Short-form video Giant fast food, explosions and rapping bosses create an immediate visual hook.
EXISTING AUDIENCE
A proven game making its PC debut
Populus Run first launched as an Apple Arcade exclusive. It later expanded to mobile storefronts and now makes its PC debut on Steam.
APP STORE
Editors’ Choice
4.7 / 5 DOWNLOADS
2M+
across all previous platforms TEAM
Three people
Independent studio About FIFTYTWO
FIFTYTWO is the independent team of Mikhail Shagin, Dmitry Victorov and Alexey Kalinin. Founded in 2012, the studio is also known for JELLIES! and Kenshō.
FIFTYTWO team: Mikhail Shagin, Dmitry Victorov, and Alexey Kalinin
About Ratvader
Ratvader is the sounds of game composer Oscar Sidoff Rydelius. Oscar worked together with FIFTYTWO on all of their 3 games: JELLIES!, Kenshō, and Populus Run.
Listen to Populus Run OST on Spotify
Mysterious lycanthrope and sound-explorer from Gothenburg, Sweden and surrounding forests.
Complete all missions, unlock Hardcore mode and run through all 3 chapters.
RECOMMENDED ONE-LINE DESCRIPTION
Populus Run is a music-fueled crowd running game from three-person indie studio FIFTYTWO, launching on Steam on September 16, 2026.
READY TO PUBLISH
Press release
Former Apple Arcade exclusive Populus Run sprints onto Steam on September 16
FIFTYTWO’s music-fueled crowd runner brings giant pastries, rapping bosses, hidden routes and Hardcore Mode to PC.
September 9, 2026 — Independent game studio FIFTYTWO announced today that Populus Run will launch on Steam on September 16, 2026.
Populus Run is a bright, music-fueled running adventure built around an unusual idea: instead of controlling one runner, players guide an entire crowd. Each course is choreographed to an original soundtrack as the group weaves around giant desserts, fast food, explosions and other oversized hazards.
The cheerful sprint is broken up by rapping boss battles and layered with optional routes. Players can climb onto rooftops, slide down pipes like at a waterpark, search for hidden characters and unlock Hardcore Mode.
Originally released as an Apple Arcade exclusive in 2021, Populus Run later reached a mobile audience with 2M+ downloads across all storefronts.
The Steam release brings the game to PC with keyboard and full controller support, Steam Achievements, Cloud, Family Sharing, and 14 supported languages.
Key features
- Control a crowd through colorful, music-choreographed courses.
- Dodge giant pastries, fast food and screen-filling explosions.
- Face rapping bosses in musical set pieces.
- Find hidden routes, rooftops and secret characters.
- Unlock Hardcore Mode by discovering the game’s secrets.
Populus Run launches on Steam for Windows, Mac, and Linux on September 16, 2026. Players can wishlist the game now at the link below.
Wishlist Populus Run on Steam
ASSETS AND VERIFICATION
Media assets
The press kit includes screenshots, key art, props, gameplay and vertical videos. No permission to use media assets is required.
Download https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nGT4RU0BUvAquGPi8iIa1NbkhtmtZRwk Big city nightlife, burgers and pineapples.
Media contact
FIFTYTWO Mikhail Shagin, hello@wefiftytwo.com
REFERENCE LINKS
Sources and official pages
Store ratings and downloads can change later.
Steam store page Release details, features, languages and PC requirements
Official Populus Run site Official description and positioning
FIFTYTWO studio site Studio background and team
Google Play 100K+ downloads and 4.7 rating
App Store Editors’ Choice and 4.7 rating
Apple Developer spotlight Team and original Apple Arcade context
Pocket Gamer Prior coverage of the game’s mobile expansion
Usage note
Editors and creators may reproduce the press-release text, official images, videos or gameplay recordings when covering Populus Run. No permission to use the materials is required. For review access, interviews or other assets, contact hello@wefiftytwo.com.