Animo Industries Launches Kickstarter for Customizable Mech Shooter

Animo Industries, an indie game studio founded in 2023 by veterans from major companies like Activision and Epic Games, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its debut title, Animo Stars Arena. This multiplayer shooter stands out by combining adorable animal pilots with heavily customizable mech war machines, offering players a unique blend of charm and chaos.

Players can tailor their mechs by swapping cabins, bumpers, and traversal engines such as treads, wheels, or hovercrafts, then arm them with special weapons like flamethrowers and grappling hooks. Further personalization includes paint colors and selecting from a cast of cute but cunning pilots, ranging from scaled reptiles to feathered fighters.

The game’s accessible design and colorful aesthetic intentionally contrast with the darker, more serious tone dominating today’s third-person shooters. Animo Stars Arena aims to recapture the playful, high-energy spirit of classics like Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros., appealing to a broad audience with multiple gameplay modes suited for casual and competitive players alike.

The Kickstarter campaign coincides with the Summer Games Fest, where Animo Industries is showcasing new gameplay at The MIX Summer Game Showcase and releasing a trailer during the Future Games Show Live broadcast. A playable demo is available on Steam for those unable to attend, allowing early access to the game’s dynamic battlescapes.

Looking ahead, Animo Industries plans to expand the universe with a follow-up game enabling players to design and trade their own pilots, mechs, and battle environments, signaling ambitions for a long-term franchise. The Kickstarter seeks $350,000 to complete development and aims for a first-half 2026 release.

With a small but experienced team of seven based in Miami, Animo Industries blends nostalgia for accessible multiplayer fun with modern game design expertise. Their approach fills a niche in the mech shooter genre, offering a fresh alternative to darker, more hardcore titles by emphasizing playful, chaotic, and customizable combat.

For players and supporters, the demo is available on Steam, and the team actively engages with the community through Discord and social media platforms like X, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. This community-driven approach is crucial for indie success and ongoing development.

In summary, Animo Stars Arena promises a vibrant, accessible, and highly customizable multiplayer mech shooter experience that stands out in today’s gaming landscape. Its blend of cute aesthetics and intense combat could redefine expectations for mech games and multiplayer shooters alike.