OtherSide Entertainment ditches competitive multiplayer for a focused two-player stealth experience, betting that co-operative heists will resonate more than player-versus-player chaos.
Some of the architects behind the most influential stealth games ever made are making a notable pivot just weeks before launch. Thick as Thieves, the magical heist game from OtherSide Entertainment, will arrive on Steam on May 20 as a solo or two-player co-op experience, scrapping its originally planned player-versus-player-versus-environment format. The decision, announced in early April, reflects a growing trend among mid-sized studios to prioritize depth over breadth when player feedback points in a different direction than the original vision.
OtherSide was founded by Paul Neurath, the creative force behind Thief and System Shock 2, and later joined by Warren Spector, the designer credited with creating Deus Ex. Together, these two effectively defined what stealth could mean in interactive entertainment. Their involvement gives Thick as Thieves a credibility that most independent titles cannot claim, but it also creates heightened expectations. When you build on a legacy that includes some of the most critically acclaimed PC games of the late 1990s and early 2000s, every design choice is scrutinized.
Set in the fictional Scottish city of Kilcairn, the game blends magic and early twentieth-century technology against a backdrop of 1910s architecture and jazz-influenced music. At launch, players will have access to two maps, 16 contracts, six unique pieces of gear, and multiple difficulty settings that alter level layouts. The premise is straightforward: plan, infiltrate, steal, and escape without being detected.
When Thick as Thieves was unveiled at The Game Awards in December 2024, it was pitched as a PvPvE experience, meaning players would compete against each other and AI-controlled guards simultaneously. That format has gained traction in recent years thanks to titles like Hunt: Showdown and Escape from Tarkov, but it is also notoriously difficult to balance. OtherSide acknowledged as much in its April announcement, stating that the development team found themselves having more fun during solo and co-op playtesting sessions than during competitive matches.
The shift frustrated a segment of early followers who were drawn to the competitive angle, and some vocalized their disappointment on Steam and social media. A developer responded to one inquiry by noting that PvPvE could return later, leaving the door open without making promises. That kind of transparent, cautious communication has become increasingly common in independent game development, where community trust can make or break a launch.
As Engadget recently reported, the console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S remain unconfirmed for the May 20 release, suggesting the PC launch on Steam comes first, and possibly exclusively for a window. For a studio of OtherSide's size, focusing on a single platform at launch reduces certification overhead and allows the team to respond to player feedback before scaling outward.
What This Says About the Indie Stealth Market
The stealth genre has seen a quiet resurgence. Games like Gloomhaven, the Dishonored series' lasting influence, and recent crowdfunded campaigns have shown there is a dependable audience for methodical, tension-driven gameplay. However, the market for competitive stealth remains largely unproven at scale. By narrowing its scope, OtherSide is effectively making a calculated bet: a polished co-op experience will generate stronger word-of-mouth and longer player retention than a feature-rich but uneven competitive mode.
This philosophy mirrors what several successful independent studios have done in recent years. Larian Studios spent years in early access refining Baldur's Gate 3 around core cooperative mechanics before expanding into a full release that dominated 2023. Supergiant Games kept Hades focused on a tight single-player loop rather than adding multiplayer features that could have diluted the experience. In both cases, restraint paid off commercially and critically.
For OtherSide, the stakes are significant. The studio's previous title, Underworld Ascendant, received mixed reviews in 2018, with critics citing technical issues and underdeveloped systems. Thick as Thieves represents an opportunity to reaffirm the design principles that made Thief and Deus Ex touchstones of their era. The pivot away from PvPvE suggests the team is willing to make hard calls late in development rather than ship a compromised vision.
The broader implication for the independent games market is straightforward. Studios led by veteran designers carry enormous brand equity, but that equity only lasts as long as the quality holds. Players will show up for a name, but they stay for the experience. If Thick as Thieves delivers on its promise of dynamic, atmospheric stealth in a richly realized world, the May 20 launch could mark a meaningful chapter in the genre's ongoing revival. If it stumbles, the conversation will quickly shift from legacy to longevity.
