New Warren Spector stealth game Thick as Thieves drops PvPvE design

When developer OtherSide Entertainment revealed the next game from Warren Spector, best known for his work on Deus Ex and Ultima Underworld, the game was pitched as a new PvPvE stealth-action multiplayer game. But that was back in 2024, and the developer has since made a substantial change to that project, Thick as Thieves. The studio has reworked its stealth game to focus on solo and cooperative play.

“When we first revealed Thick as Thieves we intended to focus on PvPvE gameplay,” the studio said in an update posted to Steam. “However, as development progressed and the world of Kilcairn has come to life, we found that we were having more fun with solo and co-op play. So, we’ve taken a decision we feel is right for the game: Thick as Thieves is now focused on two-player co-op and single player.”

OtherSide Entertainment said the change in approach will let the studio focus on “what makes Thick as Thieves truly special – dynamic stealth gameplay.”

The developer added, “We’re already seeing how this has strengthened the moment-to-moment action, whether you’re playing solo or with a partner in co-op. We’ve had some fantastic moments while testing the game. Now we’re putting all our energy into making things even better as we build up to launch.”

OtherSide plans to show Thick as Thieves at next week’s Triple-i Initiative, the gaming showcase that will also feature titles like Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Windrose, and Dead as Disco. The developer describes its new game as “A PvPvE multiplayer stealth game set in a 1910s metropolis filled with magic and intrigue. Hide, sneak, and steal your way through the ranks as you match your cunning against rival thieves in an immersive living world of stories and shadows.”

The change to Thick as Thieves will help it stand out from what is becoming an increasingly crowded PvPvE market. That space is currently dominated by extraction shooter games like Arc Raiders, Marathon, and Escape from Tarkov, and will face further competition from upcoming PvPvE titles like Deep Worlds’ Beautiful Light, Krafton’s PUBG: Black Budget, and FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods.

Thick as Thieves does not have an announced release date, but is expected to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.