{"rewrite":{"id":"r_8de99da24962bf3a6a5fe067","clusterId":"c_74d09eb7a9e29b3e22a13194","slug":"cat-piloted-mecha-roguelike-cats-in-the-shell-hits-steam-early-access-in-q4-2026","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Cat-Piloted Mecha Roguelike 'Cats in the Shell' Hits Steam Early Access in Q4 2026","summary":"Raven Studio and publisher Infini Fun announced the mecha-building roguelike auto-battler 'Cats in the Shell' will enter early access on PC via Steam in Q4 2026. Players build mechas from over 1,000 parts, choose cat pilots with unique abilities, and fight across four biomes. A public playtest runs July 2-9.","whyItMatters":"The game combines a deep mecha customization system with roguelike progression and a cat-pilot gimmick, aiming to stand out in the crowded auto-battler genre.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eRaven Studio, founded by former Tencent and NetEase employees, and publisher Infini Fun have set a Q4 2026 early access window for \u0026#39;Cats in the Shell\u0026#39; on Steam. Players pick from six mecha types and collect over 1,000 equipment and component parts through random events, assigning them to five slots to create synergies. Limited inventory space forces strategic choices. Cat pilots each bring unique active abilities and strategic traits. The story campaign spans four futuristic biomes with boss fights, and an asynchronous PvP mode pits players against mechas built by others worldwide. A Gauntlet mode challenges players to achieve 10 consecutive wins. A public playtest on Steam runs from July 2 to July 9 local time.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Cats in the Shell's mecha customization from over 1,000 parts positions it as a deep builder, but the auto-battler genre's audience is smaller than its building potential.","twitterPost":"Cats in the Shell offers 1,000+ mecha parts but launches into the auto-battler niche, not the broader mecha game market.","threadsPost":"Cats in the Shell's 1,000+ mecha parts promise deep customization, but the auto-battler genre is a narrower lane than action mecha games. The July playtest will show whether the building loop carries the combat.","newsletterBlurb":"Raven Studio and Infini Fun announced 'Cats in the Shell,' a mecha-building roguelike auto-battler where players customize giant mechas from over 1,000 parts and choose cat pilots with unique abilities. The game enters early access on Steam in Q4 2026. A public playtest runs July 2-9.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/02/168712.html\",\"title\":\"Customize giant mecha with over 1,000 parts. Cat pilot roguelike 'Cats in the Shell' early access begins Q4 2026\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":3833,"outputTokens":631,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1782960063,"createdAt":"2026-07-02T02:37:13.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-02T02:39:50.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-02T02:39:50.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_74d09eb7a9e29b3e22a13194","canonicalTitle":"巨大メカを1,000種以上のパーツでカスタマイズ。猫パイロットローグライク『Cats in the Shell』2026年Q4早期アクセス開始","representativeArticleId":"a_aef21976b0662de8b14390d7","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Cats in the Shell\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-02T02:00:04.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-02T07:29:01.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-02T07:33:26.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/cats-in-the-shell-20260702-453026/","title":"ローグライク・オートバトラー『Cats In The Shell』発表。パーツカスタマイズ戦闘メカでネコパイロットがタイマンバトル、世界のプレイヤーが作ったメカとも戦える"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/02/168712.html","title":"巨大メカを1,000種以上のパーツでカスタマイズ。猫パイロットローグライク『Cats in the Shell』2026年Q4早期アクセス開始"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Cats in the Shell"],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Raven Studio and publisher Infini Fun will release 'Cats in the Shell' on Steam Early Access in Q4 2026.","The game features over 1,000 mecha parts and six mecha types, with five equipment slots per build.","Players choose from cat pilots, each with unique active abilities and strategic traits.","A public playtest on Steam runs from July 2 to July 9, 2025.","The game includes a story campaign across four biomes, asynchronous PvP, and a Gauntlet mode requiring 10 consecutive wins."]}