Indie game studio Dog in the Machine announced their first project in a YouTube announcement trailer yesterday, October 14. Their game, FriendOS, began development in September 2024 with a number of the members behind Dog in the Machine coming back together after previously having all worked on the development of Toontown: Corporate Clash, a fan-made mod of Disney’s Toontown Online. FriendOS appears to be conceptually building off the team’s previous experience with online social games; however, there are notable changes to the core gameplay as an attempt to steer the game away from its MMORPG roots.

FriendOS is, at first glance, a regular single-player/online social hub where you and up to 12 of your friends can participate in minigames, such as fishing or card games. This is true, as is seen in other social hub games; befriending your friends with a pie to the face is strongly encouraged. Despite that, something does seem a bit off about the place…

FriendOS sees you and your friends take on the role of a 3D cursor as you explore the expansive environment of your dying 3D operating system home, battling through fierce viruses in fast-paced, top-down bullet-hell combat. Battles will reward a quick reaction time, as by hitting a baseball back and forth between you and your friends, the ball’s speed and damage will increase drastically. This high-octane choice of combat system is reminiscent of other popular indie ball games like Odyssey Interactive’s Omega Strikers and Team Reptile’s Lethal League series of games, and fans of fictionalized action sports games are sure to find enjoyment in the skill expression present in even just the earliest build’s version of this mechanic. This aspect is what sets FriendOS apart from Toontown, as “Mica Moondog”, the game’s director, puts in the team’s FAQ section on the official FriendOS Discord server:

“FriendOS is a revitalization of the ideas that we believe made Toontown unique. But it will also be a very, very different experience – one that requires you to seriously fend for yourself”

With all the makings of an adventurous and otherwise unserious RPG with friends, customizable character skins, dungeon raid-style challenges for up to 3 players, and minigames for a whole baker’s dozen, it’s no wonder excitement is building so quickly for FriendOS as its free early access period has just been announced to begin on Steam sometime in 2026.