Heave Ho 2 is adding online multiplayer this summer

Le Cartel Studio is releasing a sequel to its 2019 physics party game Heave Ho in Summer 2026 for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The developers detailed their design process and the addition of online multiplayer in a new behind-the-scenes update.

The original game gained traction as a local couch co-op staple. Players controlled a pair of disembodied arms and tried to swing across bottomless pits by grabbing onto each other. It was loud, messy, and strictly local. Fans wanted to play over the internet. The studio listened.

"The big technical change is that the game is fully online, with two online modes," developer Guillaume said. "You can play with your friends, but also with strangers, and we're excited to see how the community responds."

Building that network infrastructure was a massive hurdle for the small French team. Le Cartel Studio originally formed in 2015 and released the beat-'em-up Mother Russia Bleeds a year later. They stumbled into the first Heave Ho during a 2017 game jam. Publisher Devolver Digital eventually funded the prototype and helped turn it into a surprise hit in 2019.

The team spent several years prototyping new ideas after the 2020 lockdowns. They did multiple game jams together to figure out their next move before deciding to focus their energy entirely on a proper sequel.

Designing around themes

The first game had a straightforward goal. You grabbed your friends and swung from one side of the screen to the other. The sequel changes the formula by building levels around specific themes and interactive objects. The environments actually dictate the mechanics.

"Compared to Heave Ho 1, which was really focused on a single gameplay mechanic... this time we tried to think differently, like imagining the characters inside a kitchen, and thinking what kind of gameplay we could create there, or what would happen if they went into space," developer Fred explained.

The new environments include physics toys, ropes, and teleportation devices that change how players navigate the map. The developers also hid secrets in the scenery. Fred compared the level design to finding things in a "Where's Waldo?" book. Some of these hidden elements unlock new character skins.

More characters and polish

The studio used the sequel to upgrade the visual effects and expand the roster. The new game has 28 playable characters. Nearly half of the new additions are collaborations with other indie studios. This brings several familiar faces into the chaos.

"We've been more ambitious in nearly every aspect, including the visuals," developer Alexandre said. "It also has richer, more interactive environments, and much more polished VFX."

The game includes around 50 levels and a versus mode with more depth than the original. The soundtrack, composed entirely by Camille Giraudeau, is also much larger this time around.

Le Cartel Studio wants this to be a platform they can build on. They hope the game sells well enough to justify producing additional content after launch. The game is currently available to wishlist on the Steam store.

Adding online multiplayer gives people a way to scream at their friends from the comfort of their own homes. The original game caused enough arguments when everyone was sitting on the same couch. Introducing latency and strangers to the mix should make the physics failures even louder.