Foamstars: Everything We Know

Listen up, Splatoon fans. Square Enix just so happens to be working on an all-new 4v4 party shooter for consoles, and it's called Foamstars. Yes, Foamstars — a (you guessed it) foamy run-and-gun shoot 'em up game that'll either put the Nintendo hit to shame, or spend its forthcoming days living in its paint-splattered shadows. Whatever the case may be, here's hoping we won't have to wait all that long to find the answers.

So, what more do you need to know about Square Enix's latest project? Well, here's everything we've been able to uncover since catching it back at the PlayStation Showcase earlier this week. Foamstars: what is it, and how will its foamy roots compete with the neon empire of Splatoon? Care to share, Square?

What Is Foamstars?

To put you in the picture, Foamstars is a 4v4 party shooter game by Square Enix. Its concept, similar to that of Splatoon, will revolve around brightly colored clashes over a variation of foam-soaked locations. As one of the combatants in said clashes, you will be tasked with loading up your foam gun—a weapon that can not only damage other players, but be used to alter the terrain—and your trusty surfboard, and essentially eliminating other players in the most strategic ways imaginable.

The good news is, Foamstars won't be laced with convoluted mechanics or any major curveballs. On the contrary, Square Enix has described it as “energetic foam battles that anyone can pick up and play.” So, rest assured that, regardless of your skill level, you'll be able to jump right in and play.

Story

If you're after a story-driven experience that provides warmth, emotion, and a wholesome touch, then you're probably going to be disappointed. Truth is, we doubt there'll be anything of the sort in the upcoming IP, mainly down to the fact that the entire premise is based around short bursts of high-octane combat and a variation of multiplayer-based rounds—none of which appear to connect to an overarching narrative. But then, we can't exactly chalk it out at this point, either. Who knows — maybe Square Enix will surprise us with a single-player campaign on top of its standard multiplayer exercises?

Gameplay

If you combine the visuals of Overwatch with the floaty mechanics of Splatoon, you'll have a rough idea of what Foamstars will look like in the flesh. It's a traditional 4v4 party shooter at heart, so expect to engage in short rounds of absolute pandemonium against other players around the globe. And it's within these rounds that you, one of the game's cartoonish heroes, will have access to an arsenal of foam-themed weapons and abilities, all for the sake of defeating your opponents and making it through to the bitter end.

From what we caught during the PlayStation Showcase, Foamstars will adopt a building mechanic, too — a tool that will let you craft foamy fortresses, bridges, and fortifications to help drive away the enemy team. Think Fortnite, but with bubbly buildings instead of wooden walkways. That's really the best way we can describe it, to be honest.

In addition to this, players will also have access to a surfboard, with which they will be able to glide across slippery surfaces at high speed and, with a little luck, avoid enemy gunfire. Nice.

Development

Let the FOAM begin!

Get ready to shoot, surf and build your way to victory in the fresh foam-based multiplayer shooter, #FOAMSTARS.

Coming to PS5 and PS4. pic.twitter.com/C4iM9V4ziv

— FOAMSTARS (@foamstarsgame) May 24, 2023

Truth be told, we had no idea Square Enix was working on this one until it made a surprise appearance earlier this week. A secret well kept, but at least now it's out in the open, and eligible for a complete bashing from Splatoon diehards, no less. Needless to say that we should never judge a book by its cover, and while the aesthetics almost scream Splatoon, it's still far too early to make a call on what the final product will even look like — let alone play like.

While on the subject, Square Enix has clarified that the in-game footage shown during the PlayStation Showcase was subject to change, so technically, there's still a chance it'll have a complete makeover before it eventually goes live. Again, it's hard to say right now, but we'll be checking in with the devs over the coming months to see if they've made any major alterations to the initial teaser.

Trailer

Thanks to Sony's event that aired earlier this week, we do have some footage of Foamstars — and a smidgen of gameplay, too. Need we say more? You can catch a glimpse of what's to come in the announcement trailer above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Foamstars will be coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 at some point in the not-so distant future. And while that is rather vague, it's really the most Square Enix has given away at this moment in time. That said, judging by the looks of the footage the devs supplied at the PlayStation Showcase, it appears the game is nearing its golden milestone. Take it with a grain of salt, but if we had to put a pin on it, then we'd wager an early 2024 launch at the earliest.

Another question that needs answering is, will it only be available on PlayStation, or will Xbox and Switch be in with a chance, too? Honestly, there's nothing that currently suggests it won't arrive on either of the two. That said, if it does manage to shed its PlayStation skin, then it isn't likely to be until much later. Who knows, though.

Have the gnarly foam waves caught your attention? If so, then be sure to check in with the official social feed for additional updates here. Alternatively, you can sign up for the newsletter via its website. If a release date does come knocking, then we'll be sure to let you know right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Foamstars when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.