Pony Island 2: Panda Circus opens playtest sign-ups; original free for a few days

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

Rock Paper Shotgun reported that Pony Island 2: Panda Circus opened sign-ups for a playtest and that the original Pony Island is free for a few days. The article says a new trailer for Pony Island 2 debuted during the Triple-i Initiative and that players can indicate interest via the game's Steam page. Rock Paper Shotgun noted developer Daniel Mullins's previous work Inscryption when describing the new project's genre-mixing approach. The publication also said it was not clear whether every person who signs up will be guaranteed entry to the playtest.

• What happened: Rock Paper Shotgun reported a new trailer for Pony Island 2: Panda Circus premiered during the Triple-i Initiative and the developer opened sign-ups for a playtest via the game's Steam page; the original Pony Island is free for a few days.
• Why it matters: Rock Paper Shotgun connected Pony Island 2 to Daniel Mullins's earlier title Inscryption when describing the project's genre-blending ambitions, which frames the playtest as an early look at the creator's next project.
• Context: According to Rock Paper Shotgun's Oct. 8, 2026 report, signing up for the playtest involves marking yourself as interested on the game's Steam page; the article does not provide specific playtest dates or selection details.
• What next: Rock Paper Shotgun did not confirm whether everyone who marks interest will gain access, nor did it give exact dates for the playtest or the duration of the original game's temporary free availability.