Whitethorn Games is publishing two independently developed titles with confirmed fall 2026 release dates: Kernel Hearts on September 17 and Colorbound on October 12. Kernel Hearts is launching across PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, while Colorbound has a date but no platform list in the stories.
Whitethorn Games has two dated releases in the fall 2026 calendar, both from small studios outside the established Japanese industry. Kernel Hearts, from Argentina-based Ephemera Games, arrives on September 17, 2026, with a Japanese release the following day because of time zone differences. Colorbound, from Panpipe Studio, is dated for October 12, 2026. The two announcements came roughly three weeks apart, with Kernel Hearts confirmed on August 18 and Colorbound's date set with a new trailer on September 11.
What is settled for Kernel Hearts is the platform list: PC through Steam and Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is a roguelike action RPG with single-player and up to four-player online co-op, structured around collecting souls, choosing spells, and using mementos across runs. A demo has been available since April 1 and has received updates to mementos and relics, enemy stats, item drops, and the UI, plus added Japanese voice acting. The demo covers two floors; the full game has about seven.
Ephemera Games is an Argentina-based studio founded in 2022, and Kernel Hearts is its first title, developed over roughly four years. Colorbound, from Panpipe Studio, is a puzzle platformer about a boy who controls color, adding collected colors to a palette and repainting objects to change their weight. It draws on Aymara culture of the Andes in its art and music.
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Whitethorn Games released a new trailer for Colorbound on September 11, 2026, and set the release date for October 12. The puzzle platformer from Panpipe Studio follows a boy who can control color, adding collected colors to a palette and repainting objects to change their weight, letting heavy things float or light things fall. It draws on Aymara culture of the Andes in its art and music.
Whitethorn Games and Ephemera Games announced on August 18 that the roguelike action RPG Kernel Hearts will launch on September 17, 2026, local time, with a Japanese release following on September 18 due to time zone differences. The game is set to arrive on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. In Kernel Hearts, players join the android magical girl unit M.A.H.O.U to climb the Tower of Babel, battle angel-like creatures, and defeat the god waiting at the top. The game supports single-player and up to four-player online co-op. Each run involves collecting souls to level up, choosing new spells, and using mementos for various effects. The demo, available since April 1, has been updated with adjustments to mementos and relics, enemy stats, item drops, and UI improvements. Japanese voice acting has been added, requiring a new game start to experience story scenes with Japanese audio. The demo covers two floors, while the full game offers about seven. The developer, Ephemera Games, is an Argentina-based studio founded in 2022, and Kernel Hearts is its first title, developed over roughly four years.