Panic

Panic is an American independent software company based in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1997 by Cabel Sasser and Steven Frank. Originally known for Mac software including Transmit, Coda, and Prompt, Panic expanded into video game publishing in 2013 with the release of Firewatch in partnership with Campo Santo. They subsequently published Untitled Goose Game by House House in 2019, one of the most viral indie games ever released. Panic also designed and manufactured the Playdate, a small yellow handheld game console with a crank, released in 2022.

Panic Key Releases

Firewatch (2016)

Developed by Campo Santo, Firewatch is a first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness in 1989. You play as Henry, a fire lookout whose only contact with the outside world is his supervisor Delilah over a walkie-talkie. The game is built around their relationship and a mystery that develops over the course of one summer. Campo Santo self-published Firewatch with Panic as a partner. It received strong reviews for its writing, voice acting, and environmental storytelling.

Untitled Goose Game (2019)

Developed by House House, Untitled Goose Game is exactly what it sounds like. You are a goose and you cause problems for the residents of a small English village. It became one of the most widely shared gaming moments of 2019, with clips of the goose stealing items and honking at people spreading across social media. It is one of the more purely joyful games ever made. Published by Panic and available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Playdate

The Playdate is a small yellow handheld console with a black and white screen and a physical crank on the side, designed and manufactured by Panic. It launched in 2022 and comes with a season of games delivered weekly. The device represents Panic’s most ambitious hardware project and demonstrates their commitment to unusual, creative approaches to games and gaming.